Ill  in 


iii 


1 


MO 


'  S^^  ^'^ 


OF   THE 

Theological   Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 

Cnse, r.^-?^...^:..C-::.....D  i  yisioii 

t^lielf.      o<0^...^ Se.Gti.on 

Book,  No, 


THE 


DEW  OF  ISRAEL 


AND 


THE  LILY  OF  GOD, 


OR    A 

GLIMPSE  OF  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GRACE. 

BY 

DR.    F.    W.    KRUMMACHER, 

Author  of  "Elijah  the  Tishbite,  Elisha,  &c." 
FROM  THE  SECOND  LONDON  EDITION. 


NEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED  BY  ROBERT  CARTER, 

No,  58  Canal  Street. 

1840. 


S.  y\(iams,  Printer,  59  Gold  Street. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

THE    DEW    OP    ISRAEL,    AND  THE    LILY    OF 

GOD, 5 


BORDERS,  ......  25 

THE  MORE  THAN  PARENTAL  LOVE  OF  GOD,  46 

THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH,               .             .  67 

wisdom's    DELIGHTS    WITH    THE    SONS    OP 

MEN, 94 

THE    NIGHT    VISION,  .  .  .  .117 

SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION    AND    RECOVERY,  137 

THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN,  ....  161 

THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION,            .             .             •  240 


'    Cr 


ETOII 


THE   DEW  OF  ISRAEL,  AND   THE 
LILY  OF  GOD. 


HosEA  xiv.  5. 
I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto  Israel :  he  shall  grow  as  the  lily. 

The  Lord's  voice  crieth  to  his  people,  "  Re- 
turn, return,  O  Israel ;"  and  the  promises  added 
to  encourage  them  to  return  are  most  sweet  and 
beautiful :  "  I  will  heal  their  backsliding,  I  will 
love  them  freely  :  for  mine  anger  is  turned  away 
from  him.  I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto  Israel : 
he  shall  grow  as  the  lily."  At  this  last  promise 
we  pause  :  we  are  invited  to  inquire  into  its  im- 
port, and  to  consider — 

I.  Christ,  as  set  forth  by  the  dew  un- 
TO  Israel. 

II.  His  bride,  the  church,  with  every 

PARTICULAR  MEMBER  OF  IT,  AS  THE  BLOOMING 
LILY. 

I.  "  I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto  Israel."  Jeho- 
vah himself  as  the  dew  !  How  soft  is  this  simi- 
litude, and  how  agreeable  !  How  exactly  suited 
to  improve  and  comfort  the  heart !  Is  not  one 
and  another  of  us  ejaculating  to  Him  in  secret, 

1 


b  THE    DEW    OF    ISRAEL, 

"  Be  it  so  unto  me,  blessed  Jesiis,  my  Lord  ;  be 
it  unto  me  according  to  this  thy  word  !     Be  thou 
as  the  dew  of  the  morning  unto  me  ;  let  thy  own 
blessing  rest  upon  me,  as  the  soft  and  gentle, 
rain." 

The  dew,  that  precious  boon  bestowed  upon 
the  natural  world,  is  often  referred  to  in  the  Scrip- 
ture by  way  of  similitude.  Sometimes  it  repre- 
sents great  temporal  benefits.  Thus  Isaac,  pro- 
phetically blessing  Esau's  posterity,  said,  "  Be- 
hold, thy  dwelling  shall  be  the  fatness  of  the 
earth,  and  of  the  dew  of  heaven  from  above." 
At  other  times,  spiritual  blessings  are  compared 
to  the  dew.  Thus  in  Deuteronomy,  chap,  xxxiii. 
28,  "Israel  shall  dwell  in  safety  alone  ;  the  foun- 
tain of  Jacob  shall  be  upon  a  land  of  corn  and 
wine  :  also  his  heavens  shall  drop  down  dew." 
Again  ;  the  sure  word  of  prophecy,  in  its  exu- 
berant richness  and  refreshing  power,  is  com- 
mended to  us  by  the  same  similitude  :  "  My  doc- 
trine shall  drop  as  the  rain  :  my  speech  shall  dis- 
til as  the  dew."  The  dew  is  also  an  emblem  of 
human  grace  or  favour  :  ''  The  king's  favour," 
saith  Solomon,  "  is  as  dew  upon  the  grass."  It 
is  likewise  an  emblem  of  peace  and  unanimity : 
"  Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  bre- 
thren to  dwell  together  in  unity  !  It  is  like  the 
precious  ointment  upon  the  head,  that  ran  down 
upon  the  beard,  even  Aaron's  beard,  and  went 
down  to  the  skirts  of  his  garments;  as  the  dew 
of  Hermon,  and  as  the  dew  that  descended  upon 


AND    THE    LILY    OF    GOD.  7 

the  mountains  of  Zion  ;  for  there  Jehovah  com- 
manded the  blessincr,  even  life  for  evermore." 
The  children  of  God  themselves,  the  people  who 
are  born  again,  are  called  the  dew  ;  because  they 
are  born  from  above  ;  born  of  God  :  because  a 
beam  of  Divine  light  shines  through  them,  and 
the  image  of  the  eternal  Sun  of  Righteousness  is 
reflected  in  them :  because  they  are  jewels  of  the 
earth's  attire,  like  the  drops  of  dew;  a  graceful 
decoration  and  refreshment  spread  over  the 
great  field  of  human  nature:  also  because  the 
day  will  arrive,  when,  like  the  dew-drops,  they 
shall  be  found  a  great  multitude  that  no  man 
can  number:  and,  lastly,  because,  imperceptibly 
and  mysteriously,  they  are  begotten  and  brought 
forth  as  in  the  night,  unnoticed  and  unobserved 
by  the  world.  Thus  it  is  written  of  Christ  and 
his  church  in  Psalm  ex.,  "  Thy  people  shall  be 
willing  in  the  day  of  thy  power,  in  the  beauties 
of  holiness  from  the  womb  of  the  morning  :  thou 
hast  the  dew  of  thy  youth."  And  again,  in 
Micah,  chap.  v.  7,  "  The  remnant  of  Jacob  shall 
be  in  the  midst  of  many  people  as  a  dew  from 
Jehovah."  Very  frequently  also  the  Holy  Spirit, 
with  his  manifold  powers,  gifts,  and  operations, 
is  in  Scripture  compared  to  the  dew  ;  for  He  is  to 
the  soul  what  the  dew  and  the  rain  are  to  nature. 
"  Awake,"  saith  the  prophet,  "  and  sing,  ye  that 
dwell  in  dust :  for  thy  dew  is  as  the  dew  of 
lierbs,  and  the  earth  shall  cast  out  the  dead,"  Isa. 
xxvi.  19. 


8  THE    DEW   OF    ISRAEL, 

And  now,  if  the  Lord,  as  here  by  the  prophet 
Hosea,  style  Himself  the  Dew,  can  we  be  either 
surprised  at  it,  or  mistake  its  meaning?  He 
who  sends  the  dew,  is  also  himself  the  Dew  :  He 
being  that  Spirit,  of  whom  the  apostle  speaks, 
"  Now  the  Lord  is  that  Spirit,"  2  Cor.  iii.  17  ;  and 
again,  "  We  all,  as  with  unveiled  face,  beholding, 
as  in  a  mirror,  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are  chang- 
ed into  the  same  image,  from  glory  to  glory, 
even  as  by  the  Lord  the  Spirit,"  ver.  18.  When 
Christ  enters  into  the  soul,  he  enters  by  the 
Spirit ;  and  when  the  Spirit  is  thus  imparted  to 
us,  Christ  is  hereby  glorified  in  us  ;  and  shows 
himself  a  living  Saviour  towards  us  and  in  us. 

"  I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto  Israel."  What 
Divine  humihty  and  condescension !  For  it 
cannot  imply  that  he  will  become  this  for  any 
benefit  to  himself:  it  is  merely  for  the  benefit  of 
those  dry  pastures  that  need  his  refreshing. 
Verily,  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords.  He 
who  hath  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,  having 
all  things  to  be  put  under  his  feet,  He  it  is  who 
is  now  minded  to  be  as  the  dew  unto  us  ;  or  like 
a  reviving  rain,  poured  out  upon  the  parched 
wastes  of  revolted  human  nature.  Think  of  this 
Divine  condescension — this  unutterable  love  ! 

He  will  be  as  the  dew  !  This  promise  implies 
that  there  is  a  dry  and  withered  field  smnewhere^ 
upon  which  he  will  shed  forth  abundantly  his 
fructifying  influence  ;  and  this  field  are  we,  in 
so  far  as  we  are  not  yet  partakers  of  his  life. 


AND    THE    LILY    OF    GOD.  ^ 

We  may  search  and  look  long  enough  for  any 
verdure  in  the  soul  that  is  a  stranger  to  Jesus, 
who  alofle  is  the  Source  from  which  it  springs. 
Alas!  every  thing  therein  is  not  only  withered, 
but  burnt  up  by  the  heat  of  temptation  and  sin. 
Oh  !  how  is  that  beautiful  Eden,  which  God 
planted  within  us,  become  a  wild,  a  desolation ! 
A  fire  has  been  kindled  beneath  it — a  spirit  of 
rebellion  against  God.  and  has  consumed  or 
withered  every  green  thing.  The  soul  of  man 
is  a  wilderness — a  barren  heath — the  place  of 
dragons  and  vipers— the  seat  of  unholy  imagi- 
nations and  fleshly  lusts.  Search  and  seek  in  it 
for  the  noble  plant  of  love  to  God ;  lo,  it  has  all 
withered  and  died  away.  Look  in  it  for  any 
bud  of  child-like  confidence,  heartfelt  devotion, 
or  secret  delight  in  prayer.  Trace  in  it,  if  you 
can,  the  grace  of  true  humility,  that  sweet  lily  of 
the  valley.  Inquire  in  it  for  the  herb  patience, 
if  there  be  a  flower  of  it  left.  Look  for  the  twin- 
ing evergreen  of  communion  with  God,  whether 
a  blossom  of  it  appears  :  in  a  word,  whether  the 
soul  of  man  retains  any  strength,  or  disposition, 
or  desire  to  do  the  will  of  our  Father  which  is  in 
heaven  :  whether  there  be  any  heavenly  mind- 
edness,  or  any  affection  for  things  above.  Ah  ! 
how  is  there  nothing  of  all  this  to  be  found  in  it ! 
What  a  dry  desert  !  In  the  most  awful  sense 
does  that  saying  of  the  prophet  apply  to  us, 
"  Thou  daughter  that  dost  inhabit  Dibon,  come 
down  from  thy  glory,  and  sit  in  thirst,"  Jer. 
1* 


10  THE    DEW    OF    ISRAEL, 

xlviii.  18.  Our  strength  is  dried  up ;  it  is  be- 
come as  the  drought  of  summer.  There  is  nei- 
ther verdure  nor  hfe  in  us  ;  nor  does  our  fallen 
nature  of  itself  possess  any  power  to  restore  us. 
Our  best  efforts  to  this  purpose  are  no  better  than 
water  spilt  upon  the  burning  sands,  unless  ac- 
companied with  the  marvellous  dew  of  Divine 
grace.  Though  we  make  ever  so  many  good 
resolutions,  or  hear  ever  so  many  sermons  and  in- 
structions ;  though  we  read  ever  so  deeply  in  the 
Scriptures,  or  outwardly  join  in  the  prayers  and 
praises  of  the  church ;  though  we  retire  into 
monastic  seclusion,  or  frequent  the  company  of 
the  pious  ;  still  nothing  to  the  purpose  is  effect- 
ed, nor  is  any  spiritual  life  brought  forth,  till  the 
Lord  himself  be  really  resorted  to.  For  the  life 
of  the  soul  is  revived  only  by  his  Spirit.  With- 
out this  Divine  vouchsafement,  which  we  must 
seek,  if  we  would  receive  it,  our  human  devices, 
with  even  the  means  of  grace  themselves,  prove 
as  inefficient  as  the  dew  or  rain  upon  the  stones 
of  the  street,  whose  nature  still  remains  unchang- 
ed. But  the  Lord  can,  out  of  these  stones,  form 
a  people  for  himself,  and  raise  up  children  unto 
Abraham.  He  can  make  the  desert  to  rejoice  and 
blossom  as  the  rose. 

"I,"  saith  the  Lord,  even  I,  ^^ivill  he  as  the 
dew  unto  Israeli  How  precious  are  the  tidings, 
that  He  himself  will  be  this  dew  !  But  as  the 
dew  falls  in  the  sultry  nights  of  summer,  when 
the  fields  thirst  and  languish,  so  does  the  dew  of 


AND    THE    LILY    OF    GOD.  11 

God  descend  only  upon  thirsting  and  fainting 
souls.  In  the  scenery  of  nature,  on  an  early 
summer  morning,  where  do  you  find  the  dew 
most  abundant  ?  You  behold  it  glistening  in  the 
lowly  valleys,  and  spreading  like  a  sea  of  pearls 
over  the  surface  of  the  level  meads  ;  but  if  you 
ascend  the  lofty  peaks  and  eminences,  there  you 
find  no  dew  :  so  he  who  would  experience  Christ 
as  the  Dew  of  heaven  to  his  soul,  let  him  be  as 
the  lowly  valley,  or  the  level  mead  ;  let  his  pray- 
ers arise  to  God,  with  those  of  David,  "  out  of  the 
depths  P^  The  Lord  is  high,  but  he  hath  respect 
unto  the  lowly.  Psalm  cxxxviii.  6.  ''  With  this 
man  will  I  dwell,  saith  the  Lord,  even  with  him 
that  is  poor  and  of  a  contrite  spirit,"  Isaiah  Ivii. 
]  5  ;  Ixvi.  2.  The  hearts  of  those  to  whom  he  is 
pleased  to  communicate  himself  as  a  reviving 
dew,  are  first  rendered  meet  for  its  reception. 
Every  mountain  and  hill  must  be  brought  loiv. 
The  stable  and  the  manger,  where  the  Divine 
Saviour  once  humbly  reposed,  may  serve  to  re- 
mind us  of  the  lowliness  of  heart  in  which  we 
are  to  await  the  Lord's  visitation.  How  excel- 
lently did  our  Divine  Restorer  show  his  skill  in 
bringing  down  every  rising  imagination  that  was 
indulged  by  the  woman  of  Samaria  !  "  Thou 
hast  had  five  husbands,"  said  he,  "  and  he  whom 
thou  now  hast  is  not  thine  husband."  Then  did 
her  sin  come  home  to  her,  and  her  self-confidence 
departed.  She  became  little  in  her  own  eyes, 
and  could  no  longer  see  any  thing  good  in  her- 


12 

self.  She  was  glad  to  look  for  a  deliverer  in  the 
Messiah ;  and  now  was  the  time  for  him  to  de- 
clare to  her,  "  1  that  speak  unto  thee  am  He." 
With  this  word  did  Jesus  communicate  himself 
to  the  soul  of  that  poor  sinner;  he  thus  came 
upon  that  soul  as  the  dew  of  heaven,  so  that  it 
began  to  revive  and  flourish.  Life  and  vigour 
were  now  exeperienced  in  her  heart  and  mind, 
and  animated  her  words  and  actions,  her  conduct 
and  conversation.  Thus  was  she  made  a  plant 
of  renown,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  His  grace- 
A  process  of  this  same  kind  is  still  observed  in 
the  conversion  of  sinners.  The  dew  of  God  is 
poured  out  from  on  high  ;  he  rends  the  heavens, 
and  comes  down  ;  and  wherever  he  finds  the 
lowly  valleys  of  humiliation — empty,  poor,  and 
needy  souls — there  is  the  place  of  his  rest ;  there 
he  diffuses  the  dew  of  his  blessing ;  there  he 
communicates  himself  as  the  inheritance  and 
portion  of  his  people  ;  replenishing  the  hungry 
soul  with  good,  but  leaving  the  rich  to  their  own 
spiritual  emptiness. 

As  the  dew  falls  from  heaven  in  the  stillness 
of  the  night,  when  no  rushing  tempest  is  heard, 
no  flash  of  lightning  is  seen  ;  nevertheless  in  the 
morning  it  hangs  upon  the  leaves,  and  we  won- 
der whence  it  came,  and  "  who  hath  begotten  "  it ; 
so  is  the  way  of  Christ.  The  manner  and  way 
of  his  coming  to  the  soul  is  a  mystery  hidden  in 
night;  and  who  can  unveil  it?  His  coming  is 
also  generally  in  stillness,  and  without  noise ;  not 


AND    THE    LILY   OF    GOD.  13 

with  the  alarm  of  the  trumpet,  or  the  pomp  of 
power ;  not  with  visions,  or  marvellous  natural 
phenomena  ;  nor  with  voices  from  heaven,  and 
visible  angelic  array.  Before  the  sorrowing, 
sighing,  and  waiting  sinner  is  aware,  lo  !  He  is 
nigh  unto  the  ship  that  is  tossed  with  the  waves, 
and  saith,  "  It  is  I ;  be  not  afraid  !"  No  "  man 
in  bright  clothing  "  stands  before  the  suppliant  in 
his  chamber,  nor  has  any  audible  voice  entered 
in  at  the  windows  ;  he  has  seen  no  heavenly 
messenger,  nor  any  external  radiance,  such  as 
the  shepherds  saw  in  the  fields  of  Bethlehem  ; 
nevertheless  in  his  inward  man  it  is  declared,  "  I 
bring  thee  good  tidings  of  great  joy ;  for  unto 
thee  is  born  this  day  a  Saviour  :"  to  the  spirit  of 
the  sinner  has  a  testimony  been  borne  ;  and  this 
is  the  testimony,  that  God  hath  "given  unto  him 
eternal  life,  and  this  life  is  in  his  Son."  He  is  as- 
sured, in  his  own  heart,  that  he  has  free  admis- 
sion to  that  fountain  which  is  opened  to  the  house 
of  David  and  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  ;  he 
is  become  convinced  that  Christ  is  his  Saviour. 
The  dew  has  fallen  in  the  stillness  of  night ;  but 
how,  and  in  what  way,  no  man  knoweth.  Yet 
the  sinner  feels  that  it  is  with  him  ;  and  we  may 
observe  it  accompanying  all  his  words  and  looks, 
his  whole  conduct  and  disposition. 

The  dew  of  the  field  has  moreover  a  bright 
lustre  within  it,  for  it  has  communion  with  the 
light  of  heaven.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Christ 
communicated  to  uis  in  the  dew  of  his  grace. 


14  THE    DEW    OF    ISRAEL, 

When  once  he  has  thus  come  in  unto  us,  all  is 
bright  and  pellucid  in  the  depths  of  our  disorder- 
ed nature  ;  and  the  more  we  thus  receive  out  of 
his  fulness,  the  more  are  the  depths  of  our  mise- 
ry presented  to  our  view,  and  the  more  tho- 
roughly do  we  see  our  own  nothingness,  and  our 
own  helplessness.  Hence  it  is  that  believers  so 
often  exclaim,  "  Lord  !  what  am  I?  My  spiritual 
state  is  becoming  worse  and  worse."  But,  blessed 
be  God,  that,  like  as  the  natural  dew  covers  en- 
tirely that  whereon  it  falls,  so  does  Christ  cover 
all  our  misery  with  his  own  self;  yes,  with  his 
own  righteousness;  the  lustre  of  which  contains 
far  more  various  and  lovely  hues  than  the  tapes- 
try and  curtains  of  Solomon.  He  covers  us  en- 
tirely therewith  ;  he  so  enfolds  and  veils  us  in  it, 
that  Divine  justice  itself  no  more  discerns  in  us 
"spot,  or,  wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing."  "  There 
is  no  condemnation  to  them  which  are  in  Christ 
Jesus." 

Again  ;  how  fructifying  is  this  dew  !  What 
a  hfe  does  Christ  thus  impart  to  the  soul !  He 
makes  that  which  was  dead  to  live.  He  is  the 
Builder  of  the  waste  places,  and  makes  the  parch- 
ed ground  verdant  and  blooming.  What  a 
change  does  even  the  natural  dew  eifect  on  the 
face  of  nature,  when,  after  many  sultry  sum- 
mer hours,  its  pearly  blessings  are  dropped 
upon  the  fields  from  the  bosom  of  the  blushing 
morn !  "Vegetation  no  longer  appears  withered 
and  dry;  the  grasses  and  the  flowers  again  erect 


'      AND    THE    LILY    OF    GOD.  15 

their  heads  :  all  nature  is  re-adorned  with  a  new 
and  vernal  robe;  and  the  scent  of  life  is  again 
wafted  upon  the  gale.  Bat  greater  still  and  more 
glorious  is  the  change,  which  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
poured  out  upon  a  single  soul,  or,  as  in  the  case 
of  Cornelius,  upon  a  whole  household,  is  known 
to  produce.  And  until  this  is  done,  how  lamentable, 
desolate,  and  void,  does  all  appear  in  individuals 
and  families  !  What  a  poor,  insipid  life  do  they 
lead  !  The  world  absorbs  all  that  they  have — 
their  minds,  their  affections,  their  understanding. 
Their  thoughts  flit  only,  as  it  were,  around  the 
flesh-pots  and  furnaces  of  Egypt ;  their  desires 
and  their  hopes  grovel  on  the  ground,  and  feed 
upon  the  earth.  Their  lips  are  opened  merely 
about  bodily  gratifications,  worldly  business,  and 
the  things  of  time.  Their  whole  life  and  being, 
with  its  incitements,  exertions,  and  entire  con- 
duct, its  joys  and  its  sorrows,  its  hopes  and  its 
fears,  all  proceed  in  the  same  worldly  track,  and 
the  whole  man  is  laden  more  and  more  with  its 
thick  clay :  every  care  is  low,  and  more  or  less 
selfish  and  ignoble,  without  God,  without  light, 
without  heavenly-mindedness,  and  full  of  sin. 
The  angels  of  God  cannot  endure  such  a  sight. 
But  lo !  salvation  comes  to  this  house ;  the  re- 
viving dew  descends  upon  this  dreary  wild. 
Now  come  and  behold  what  a  change  is  pro- 
duced !  The  glory  of  the  Lord  filieth  the  house. 
How  holy  is  the  place  become  !  The  self-seek- 
ing spirit  of  the  world  is  expelled,  and  replaced 


16  THE   DEW    OF    ISRAEL, 

by  the  "  quiet  spirit"  of  humility  and  love.  The 
conversation  is  in  heaven ;  the  worry  of  earthly 
excitement  is  cast  off;  the  thoughts,  wishes,  and 
desires,  find  wings  for  higher  aims.  The  trea- 
sure is  discovered  to  be  elsewhere,  and  therefore 
the  heart  is  there  also.  Other  bread  and  other 
water  are  now  known  of,  and  therefore  another 
kind  of  thirst  and  hunger  is  experienced.  Other 
objects  have  engaged  the  interest,  and  therefore 
the  language  and  conversation  have  assumed 
another  tone.  They  have  become  savoury  and 
spiritual ;  and  after  a  spiritual  and  godly  man- 
ner is  all  their  business  transacted.  The  very 
chambers  of  the  house  are  perfumed  with  the 
sweet  incense  of  prayer,  praise,  and  thanksgiving, 
ascending  day  and  night  before  the  Lord.  Here- 
tofore, all  was  without  form  and  void,  and  dark- 
ness upon  the  face  of  the  deep  ;  but  now  is  the 
light  sprung  up  within  it,  and  the  wilderness 
blooms  in  beauty.  This  is  the  Lord's  doing, 
who  hath  said,  "  I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto 
Israel." 

Oh  that  we  had  every  one  experienced  Him  as 
the  dew  to  our  souls  !  But,  brethren — observe 
and  mark  it  well — the  very  dew,  precious  as  it  is, 
can  even  occasion  rottenness  to  the  fields.  This 
is  the  case  when  it  meets  with  too  cold  an  at- 
mosphere ;  then  it  stiffens  into  rime,  and  de- 
stroys vegetation.  Even  so,  Christ,  the  precious 
Dew  of  God,  has  proved  to  many  a  soul.  Wit- 
ness that  awful  and  striking  instance  of  it,  in 


AND    THE    LILY   OF    GOD.  17 

Judas   Iscariot.      Covetousness    and    stubborn- 
ness were  in  him.     Wliat  then  could  his  spirit 
breathe  to  Christ,  but  wintry  air  ?     Hence  that 
dew  descending  upon  him,  became  to  his  soul  as 
the  cold  rime,  or  stiffening  ice.     Every  thing 
which  Jesus  did  by  word  and  example,  or  with 
allurements  and  warnings,  to  effect  an  entrance 
into  the  spirit  of  that  false  disciple,  produced  ef- 
fects the  very  opposite  to  those  of  the  genial  dew  ; 
served  only  to  embitter  his  spirit,  and  to  harden 
his  heart  more  and  more ;  to  mature  his  corrup- 
tion, to  ripen  him  for  perdition,  and  to  hasten 
his  condemnation.     Yet  who  was  to  blame,  but 
Judas?     May  God  preserve  every  one  of  us 
from  a  similar  judgment,  and  forbid,  that  the 
precious  dew  of  heaven,  which  alone  can  revive 
us  to  eternal  life,  should  become  as  a  chillinsr 
hoar-frost,  and  fetters  of  iceto  our  souls,  through 
the  infidel  coldness  and  adverse  breath  of  some 
besetting  sin ! 

And  how  should  we  praise  and  bless  God, 
whoever  of  us  has  experienced  and  still 
experiences  the  enlivening,  refreshing,  fructi- 
fying power  of  this  divine  dew  !  But  what 
if  you  experience  it  not  at  every  moment ; 
or  are  not  able  fully  to  realize  its  sweet  re- 
freshment for  days,  or  even  for  weeks  together  ? 
This  must  not  set  you  wrong,  or  confound  you. 
He  who  is  the  Dew  of  God,  oftentimes  with- 
draws himself  for  a  while  from  his  field,  the  soul. 
Then  will  droop  the  plants  of  faith  and  love, 
2 


18  THE    DEW    OF    ISRAEL, 

of  confidence  and  joy  ;  then  is  there  no  life  for 
prayer,  praise,  and  thanksgiving  ;  but  all  is  dry- 
ness and  wretchedness.  Still,  wait  upon  the 
Lord  ;  for  he  intends  you  should  only  the  more 
experience  how  much  depends  on  that  Divine 
dew  ;  and  how  necessary  it  is  for  working  and 
effecting  every  thing.  When  the  hour  for  its 
return  is  arrived,  then  will  it  surely  come,  and 
cause  you  again  feelingly  to  rejoice  in  its  benefi- 
cial efficacy.  And  oh,  what  a  rejoicing  is  it,  when 
after  a  tedious  sultry  season  of  drought,  the  pre- 
cious dew  and  gracious  rain  again  descend  !  It 
is  then  we  learn  duly  to  value  such  an  inestima- 
ble blessing,  and  more  fully  to  enter  into  the 
meaning  of  that  promise  of  the  Lord,  "  1  will  be 
as  the  dew  unto  L'sael." 

II.  As  Christ  represents  himself  in  the  text, 
under  the  figure  of  the  dew,  so  he  compares  his 
bride  the  church,  and  herein  every  believing 
soul,  to  the  beautiful  lily :  "  I  will  be  as  the 
dew  unto  Israel,"  so  that  "  he  shall  grow  as  the 
lily."* 

This  similitude,  also,  is  of  great  significance 
and  importance.  The  inhabitants  of  Palestine. 
probably  knew  of  no  flower  more  truly  sweet 
and  lovely,  than  the  noble  lily.     As  the  nightin- 

*  In  the  Lutheran  version,  the  word  "lily"  is  ''rose:"  the 
translator  has,  however,  preferred  the  English  rendering  as 
most  correct,  and  has  accordingly  followed  it  throughout  this 
sermon. 


AND    THE    LILY    OF    GOD.  19 

gale  amon^  the  songsters  of  the  grove,  so  was  to 
them  the  lily  among  flowers,  eloquent  in  show- 
ing forth  the  praises  of  its  Creator.  Without 
either  living  voice  or  sound,  without  the  rustle 
of  the  palm  trees  in  the  valley  of  Rephaim,  or  the 
roar  of  the  cedars  on  Mount  Lebanon,  it  seems 
■as  if  created  simply  to  bespeak  the  glory  of  Him 
who  formed  it.  So  Israel,  "  the  seed "  of  him 
that  "  shall  prolong  his  days,"  Is.  liii.  10,  is  form- 
ed and  planted  in  the  great  wilderness  of  man- 
kind, to  show  forth  the  virtues  of  his  Maker, 
1  Pet.  ii.  9,  who  hath  redeemed  Jacob,  Is.  xliv. 
23,  and  is  beautifully  glorious  in  Israel.  Like- 
wise, St.  Paul  speaks  of  real  Christians  as  "  fore- 
ordained to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  grace," 
Eph.  i.  5,  6,  and  as  "  God's  workmanship  ;"  as 
being  from  the  root  to  the  crown,  conformed  to 
the  lovely  image  of  his  Son.  His  light  is  de- 
clared to  shine  in  them ;  and  his  Spirit  to  be 
breathed  by  them.  Whatever  is  bright  and 
beautiful  in  them,  is  spoken  of  as  God's ;  and 
only  what  is  dark,  as  their  own.  The  Urim 
and  Thummim,  the  light  and  integrity ^  which 
they  bear  in  their  bosom,  shining  like  a  breast- 
plate, the  Lord  hath  "  put "  them  there.  Conse- 
quently their  song  is,  "  Not  unto  us.  Lord,  not 
unto  us,  but  to  thy  name  give  glory,  for  thy  lov- 
ing mercy  and  tliy  truth's  sake,"  Ps.  cxv.  1. 
The  power  of  his  loving  mercy  and  grace  is,  to 
his  praise,  made  visible  in  those  who  are  born 
again.     "  We  have,"  says  Paul,  "  this  treasure 


20  THE    DEW    OF    ISRAEL, 

in  earthen  vessels,  that  the  excellency  of  the 
power  may  be  of  God,  and  not  of  us,"  2  Cor. 
iv.  7. 

Well  may  we  adore  God's  condescending 
choice,  when  we  consider  who  those  are  whom 
he  thus  tenderly  rears.  They  are  a  poor  and 
afflicted  people  ;  a  number  of  broken-hearted  pen- 
itents, who  can  discover  nothing  good  in  them- 
selves. They  are  a  distressed  and  embarrassed 
multitude,  like  that  which  David  gathered  about 
him  at  the  cave  of  Adullam,  1  Sam.  xxii.  2  ;  they 
have  nothing  originally  their  own,  except  the 
defilement  of  sin.  Weak  and  faint-hearted  by 
nature,  they,  of  themselves,  would  not  have  dared 
to  attempt  any  thing  worthy  of  God.  He  found 
them  lame,  blind,  maimed,  and  reduced  to  beg- 
gary ;  ready  to  lay  down  at  the  threshold  of  his 
house,  and  glad  to  live  upon  the  crumbs  that  fall 
from  his  table.  Such  is  their  character.  "  Ye 
see  your  calling,  brethren,"  saith  the  apostle, 
"  how  that  not  many  wise  men  after  the  flesh,  not 
many  mighty,  not  many  noble,  are  called  ;  but 
God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world, 
to  confound  the  wise  ;  and  God  hath  chosen  the 
weak  things  of  the  world,  to  confound  the  things 
which  are  mighty  ;  and  base  things  of  the  world, 
and  things  v/hich  are  despised,  hath  God  chosen ; 
yea,  and  things  which  are  not,  to  bring  to  nought 
things  that  are;  that  no  flesh  should  glory  in  his 
presence,"  1  Cor.  i.  26.  Thus  those  who  are 
wise  in  their  own  eyes,  and  prudent  in  their 


AND   THE    LTLY    OF    GOD.  2l 

own  sight,  or  who  pride  themselves  upon  being 
influential,  mighty,  or  renowned  in  this  world,  are 
passed  by,  or  are  trodden  under  foot  as  rank  and 
noxious  weeds.  Far  rather  will  He  accept  a 
truly  contrite  David,  though  he  had  been  an 
adulterer  and  murderer  ;  a  Lazarus  full  of  sores  ; 
a  conscience-smitten  publican,  standing  afar  off, 
ashamed  to  lift  up  his  eyes  unto  heaven,  and  cry- 
ing, "  God  be  merciful  unto  me  a  sinner  ;"  or  a 
repenting  malefactor  in  ignominy.  Such  will 
he  form  into  his  lilies.  Amazing  grace  !  Of 
grace,  and  grace  alone,  doth  the  zeal  of  the  Lord 
of  hosts  perform  this.  Not  an  atom  of  merit  is 
there  in  the  penitence,  humiliation,  or  sincere 
contrition,  which  such  persons  exhibit.  They 
are  constituted  lilies  because  they  are  found 
in  Christ  alone,  clothed  with  his  righteousness, 
and  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him. 
"  He  hath  made  us  accepted  in  the  Beloved," 
Eph.  i.  6. 

The  lily  is  often  found  growing  among  thorns. 
Accordingly  we  find  the  bridegroom  exclaiming 
in  the  Song  of  Songs,  (ii.  2,)  "  As  the  lily  among 
thorns,  so  is  my  beloved  among  the  daughters." 
And  what  do  such  thorns  represent,  but  the 
many  temporal  and  spiritual  troubles,  with 
which  the  chosen  of  God  are  incessantly  encom- 
passed here  on  earth  ?  But  thus  it  must  be ;  for 
such  thorns  are  as  a  fence  and  a  check  round 
about  us  ;  as  a  check,  to  keep  us  humble  and 
dependent  on  the  Lord  alone  ;  and  as  a  fence,  to 
2* 


22  THE    DEW    OF    ISRAEL, 

ward  off  many  a  temptation  to  pride  and  levity. 
Lazarus,  without  his  sores,  would  not  have 
bloomed  so  beautifully  as  he  did  in  spirit  before 
the  Lord;  and  Paul,  without  his  thorn  in  the 
flesh,  would  have  been  exalted  above  measure. 
The  church  of  old  shone  brightest,  when  in  the 
midst  of  her  tribulations ;  then  was  her  whole 
beauty  developed. 

Observe,  and  lastly,  by  what  means  the  lily 
thrives  and  flourishes.  It  toils  not,  neither  does 
it  spin  ;  but  passively  waves  in  the  sunshine,  and 
opens  its  cup  to  the  morning  dew.  Thus  it 
breathes  its  fragrance  ;  thus  it  blooms  so  sweetly, 
and  is  arrayed  more  beautifully  than  Solomon 
was  in  all  his  glory.  Consider  then  the  lily  Aoi^; 
it  grows  ;  for  we  cannot  grow  better  than  by  the 
process  which  it  observes.  As  it  passively  waves 
in  the  sunshine  of  God,  and  opens  its  cup  to  the 
day-spring  dew,  so  let  us  learn  to  glory  only  in 
that  "  life"  which  is  "  the  light  of  men,"  namely,  in 
Christ  who  is  our  Life  ;  and  to  expand  our 
thoughts  and  affections  every  morning,  to  the 
influence  of  his  Spirit.  Let  us  ever  remember,  that 
nothing  is  effected  by  the  self-confidence  or  self- 
dependence  of  him  that  willeth,  or  of  him  that 
runneth.  Oh,it  is  a  fearful  presage,when  we  begin 
to  lean  to  our  own  wisdom,  or  our  own  worth,  or 
our  own  strength  ;  and  think,  by  devices  of  our 
own,  to  keep  up  our  spiritual  health  ;  to  form  a 
spiritual  dew  for  ourselves  ;  to  make  to  ourselves 
a  holiness  and  a  glory.    This  is  no  other  than  the 


AND    TFIE    LILY    OF    GOD.  23 

way  to  spiritual  death.  Our  life  consists  in  abiding 
in  the  Light  of  Israeljin  communion  withHim  who 
is  the  Root  of  David,  and  the  Bright  and  Morning 
Star.  Happy  indeed  are  those,  who  know  of  no 
consolation  but  in  Christ  their  Surety ;  no  nourish- 
ing spring  but  the  Fountain  of  salvation  opened  to 
the  house  of  David,  from  which  they  daily  and 
hourly  receive  and  draw.  Happy  those  who 
have  no  other  care  than  to  live  beneath  the  wings 
of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  that  they  may  be 
constantly  advancing  to  perfect,  spiritual  health. 
Happy  those;  whose  eyes  are  ever  looking  to  the 
great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls,  to  receive 
immediately  from  his  hand,  and  to  be  satisfied 
with  his  good  pleasure.  Nothing  really  good  for 
them  will  He  withhold.  "  Bread  shall  be  given 
Ihem  ;  their  waters  shall  be  sure."  Wilt  thou  then 
thrive,  O  Israel,  and  bloom  as  the  lily  ?  Let  a 
sense  of  thy  need  keep  thy  heart  ever  thus  open 
to  Christ,  with  thy  mind  always  humble,  and 
prayerfully  teachable  to  his  Spirit.  Thus  shalt 
thou  be  as  the  summer  lily,  lovely,  fresh,  and 
fragrant ;  and  in  the  midst  of  thy  leaves — thy 
words  and  actions,  thy  prayers  and  praises — 
will  be  seen  sparkling  and  glistening,  the  pure 
blessings  of  that  eternal  dew  which  has  nurtured 
thee. 

May  then  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  Jesus  come 
upon  each  of  us  as  the  dew  !  On  all  who  have 
been  hitherto  but  as  dry  and  withered  grass,  good 


24  THE    DEW    OF    ISRAEL,  &C. 

for  nothing  but  to  be  cast  into  the  fire  and  burn- 
ed ;  may  He  do  marvels,  even  as  upon  the  rod 
of  Aaron,  which  was  sapless  and  dead,  but,  in  a 
single  night,  by  the  mighty  power  of  the  Lord, 
became  verdant,  bloomed  blossoms,  and  yielded 
almonds !  May  He  transform  this  our  whole 
church  into  a  very  field  of  lilies  !  That  whenever 
he  shall  visit  us,  to  call  a  soul  into  eternity,  it 
may  be  said  of  him  in  heaven,  as  in  the  Song 
of  Songs,  (vi.  2.)  "  My  Beloved  is  gone  down  into 
his  garden — to  gather  lilies."  Meanwhile,  may- 
His  church  upon  earth,  with  all  its  members, 
expand  andbloom  to  the  utmost !    Amen. 


^4 


%, 


^: 


ISSACHAR;   OR,  COUCHING  BETWEEN 
THE  BORDERS. 


Genesis  xlix.  14,  15. 

Issachar  is  a  bony  ass,  couching  down  between  the  borders  :* 
and  he  saw  rest,  that  is  was  good  ;  and  the  land,  that  it  was 
pleasant ;  so  he  bowed  his  shoulder  to  bear,  and  became  a 
servant  unto  tribute. 

The  blessing  which  Jacob  uttered,  at  his 
death,  from  which  the  words  of  the  text  are  ta- 
ken, contains  wonderful  things  in  several  of  its 
mysterious  announcements.  Primarily  it  refers, 
of  course,  to  the  future  temporal  condition  of  the 
twelve  tribes.     But  if  we  apply  the  description 

*  The  authorised  English  version  has  it  "  between  two  hir. 
densP  The  word  iD'^^&'jp/afl  thus  translated,  occurs  only  once 
more  in  the  Hebrew  Scriptures,  namely  in  the  song  of  Deborah, 
Judges  V.  16,  "  Why  abodest  thou  among  the  sheep/olds,"  &c., 
where  it  may  equally  be  rendered,  "  between  the  borders ;" 
namely  those  of  Moab  and  Canaan,  between  which  the  tribe 
of  Reuben,  there  addressed,  was  situated.  The  word  in  the 
Lutheran  version  is  "Z'or^ers,"  in  Gen.  xlix.,  and  "/oZ<^s"  or 
" jpms"  (for  sheep,)  in  Judges  v.  It  appears  to  be  derived  from 
MBtli  to  put  or  set  in  order,  to  dispose,  ordain,  or  arrange. 
Hence  Parkhurst  renders  tj^^r^n^p^the  regular  divisions  (in  a 
stall  or  stable  ;)  that  is,  the  bars  or  boards  which  divide  it  into 
distinct  standings,  Genesis  xlix.  14,  also  sheepfolds^  or  pens  for 
sheep,  Judges  v.  16.— Translator. 


26 

to  teach  us  spiritual  lessons,  we  may  obtain 
many  important  hints  of  instruction.  For,  if  we 
consider  nothing  more  than  Issachar  after  the 
flesh,  we  shall  have  done  with  the  text  almost 
immediately  upon  noticing  it  as  a  prediction  that 
Issachar  should  become  a  tribe  of  laborious  hus- 
bandmen. But  there  is  a  spiritual  Issachar,  a 
borderer  between  good  and  evil ;  and  would  to 
God  that  his  tents  were  no  where  to  be  found  in 
our  Church.  With  this  Issachar.  or  in  other 
words,  the  wavering  and  undecided,  for  the  de- 
scription of  whose  character  we  find  appropriate 
words  in  the  text,  let  us  now  endeavour  to  be- 
come better  acquainted.     We  shall  notice, 

I.  Where  he  couches  down. 
TI.  How  he  came  into  this  situation. 
III.  The  toils  and  dangers  he  finds  in  it. 

I.  Issachar  has  here  a  strange  and  unprepos- 
sessing appellation,  that  of  "  a  bony  ass."  Judah 
is  more  agreeably  styled  a  young  lion ;  Naphtali, 
a  fleet  hind  let  loose  ;  Joseph,  a  fruitful  bough 
by  a  well ;  or,  an  olive  tree  by  a  fountain,  whose 
branches  spread  over  the  wall ;  Jonathan,  the 
friend  of  David,  is  compared  by  him  to  an  ea- 
gle ;  the  Shulamite  is  compared,  by  the  inspired 
writer  of  the  Song  of  Songs,  to  a  dove;  and  Is- 
rael is  compared  to  a  lily.  All  these  names  have 
n  pleasanter  sound ;  but  that  of  a  "  bony  ass"  so 
lowers  our  idea  of  the  person  intended,  that  we 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.       27 

are  not  apt  to  desire  a  more  particular  acquain- 
tance with  him.  But  who  shall  say  how  many 
amongst  ourselves  may  not  be  thus  unflatteringly 
designated  in  various  parts  of  the  book  of  God  ? 
We  shall  see  why  to  the  spiritual  Issachar  this 
name  may  be  given,  when  we  have  learnt  the 
characteristics  which  belong  to  him. 

Where  do  we  find  him?  It  is  between  the 
borders.  He  is  couched  down  between  the  bor- 
ders. Now,  if  we  give  a  spiritual  application  to 
these  words,  we  may  take  them  as  describing  an 
evil  and  unhappy  condition.  How  awfully  does 
the  Lord  rebuke  those  whose  hearts  are  halting  in 
indecision — who  are  neither  cold  nor  hot !  To 
each  of  such  lukewarm  ones  he  declares,  "  I  will 
spue  thee  out  of  my  mouth."  He  would  that  they 
were  either  one  thing  or  the  other ;  either  cold 
or  hot.  Indecision  is  to  Him  an  abomination. 
Observe  how  he  speaks  of  those  who  neither  de- 
clare themselves  for  him,  nor  for  the  world ;  who 
neither  openly  renounce  him,  nor  stand  forth 
decidedly  for  him ;  but  waver  between  two  par- 
ties— that  of  his  friends  and  that  of  the  enemies 
of  his  cross.  All  such  he  positively  denounces 
as  his  enemies,  and  at  length  will  treat  them  as 
such.  "  He  that  is  not  with  me,  is  against  me  ; 
and  he  that  gathereth  not  with  me,  scattereth.". 
Suppose  he  were  now  visibly  to  come  amongst 
our  churches,  to  mark  how  many  thousands  of 
those  would  be  regarded  as  his  messengers,  have 
couched  or  settled  down  between  the  borders  of 


28 

his  pure  gospel,  and  those  of  a  self-invented  hu- 
man wisdom,  far  estranged  from  God ;  what 
would  he  say  ?  Can  we  not  anticipate  the  very- 
sentence  from  his  lips,  "  I  would  that  ye  were 
cold  or  hot ;  whereas  now  ye  are  neither  the  one 
nor  the  other !"  Far  better  were  it  that  they 
were  declared  infiels  at  once,  (for  then  the  sim- 
ple flock  might  be  aware  of  them,)  than  such 
pernicious  middle  men,  halting  between  two 
opinions. 

Where,  then,  is  it  that  the  spiritual  borderer 
couches  down,  and  betv/een  what  borders  has  he 
pitched  his  tent?  Stricdy  speaking,  he  is  not  one 
of  those  who  are  neither  for  nor  against  religion, 
neither  Christian  nor  heathen.  He  is  professedly 
for  that  which  is  right.  He  appears,  indeed,  to 
many,  to  have  pitched  his  tent  within  the  king- 
dom of  God,  and  yet  he  is  in  a  very  deplorable 
situation.  He  has  settled  down,  as  it  were,  be- 
tween Canaan  and  Egypt.  He  cannot  exactly 
be  classed  with  the  people  of  the  world  ;  but  still 
less  can  he  be  numbered  with  the  children  of 
God.  He  cannot  properly  be  placed  in  the  same 
rank  with  the  crooked  and  perverse  generation  ; 
but  still  less  can  he  be  accounted  one  of  the 
chosen  generation  and  royal  priesthood.  He  is 
couched  down  between  the  borders  of  the  king- 
dom of  grace  and  the  kingdom  of  Belial.  In  this 
unhappy  middle  situation  he  can  never  sit  down 
with  the  subjects  of  the  former  ;  but  he  will  per- 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.        29 

ish  and  be  consumed  with  the  subjects  of  the 
latter. 

Let  us  now  examine  his  state  more  particular- 
ly, that  we  may  fully  understand  it,  both  exter- 
nally and  spiritually.  His  exterior  appearance 
in  his  life  and  conversation  speaks  fairly,  and 
very  much  prepossesses  us  in  his  favour.  Did 
you  expect  to  find  him  in  the  counsel  of  the  un- 
godly, in  the  way  of  sinners,  or  in  the  seat  of  the 
scornful  ?  Any  thing  but  this  : — to  suppose 
such  a  thing  of  him  would  be  to  do  him  great 
injustice.  He  has  escaped  far  away  from  such 
regions  of  Sodom,  and  separated  himself  from 
communion  with  its  inhabitants.  He  no  longer 
burns  incense  on  the  high  places  or  in  the 
groves :  the  assemblies  of  those  who  drink  ini- 
quity like  water,  are  to  him  an  abomination  and 
despicable.  You  will  never  find  him  in  the 
chambers  of  wantonness,  nor  in  the  resorts  of 
riot ;  never  where  the  worldling,  infatuated  and 
blind,  gives  the  rein  to  debauchery,  and  dances 
to  any  measures  which  the  god  of  this  world 
may  appoint.  He  is  no  partner  with  those  who 
say,  "  Let  us  eat  and  drink,  for  to-morrow  we 
die ;"  neither  with  the  swine  does  he  wallow  in 
the  mire.  Equally  mistaken  will  you  be,  if  you 
expect  to  find  him  associated  with  those  self-called 
moralists,  who  are  satisfied  with  regulating  their 
outward  conduct  by  the  rules  of  civil  order,  but 
make  no  profession  of  religion.  He  is  not  one 
of  those  who  express  a  disgust  for  what  some  are 


30  tssachar;  or, 

pleased  to  call  hypocrisy  and  preciseness  ;  per- 
sons who  are  satisfied  with  their  self-imagined 
integrity,  but  neglect  God's  word,  authority,  and 
ordinances ;  who  dislike  prayer  and  thanksgiving 
to  God,  as  useless  and  antiquated  ceremonies  ; 
who  deride  or  pity  those  that  make  a  conscience 
of  such  things,  which  they  would  leave  only  to 
children  and  weak  persons.  No  ;  you  must  look 
for  him  among  those  who  are  quiet  in  the  land  ; 
who  professedly  make  a  conscience  of  worship- 
ping God  :  you  must  expect  to  find  him  where 
the  name  of  the  Lord  is  preached  and  called 
upon ;  where  the  banner  of  the  cross  is  lifted 
hiffh :  where  confession  is  made  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father  ; 
among  those  who  teach  and  admonish  one  another 
in  psalms  and  hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  and 
lift  up  holy  hands  to  heaven ;  where  men  feed 
in  the  green  pastures  of  the  everlasting  word, 
and  drink  in  life  and  satisfaction  from  the  livins" 
spring  of  the  sure  mercies  of  David.  There 
shall  you  find  him :  there  hath  he  his  tent  and 
habitation  ;  he  dwelleth  among  the  saints,  and 
is  to  be  met  with  in  their  assemblies. 

But  how  is  this  ?  Must  he  not  then  be  a  hy- 
pocrite ?  This  is  too  hard  a  thing  to  say  of  him. 
Hypocrites  are  another  sort  of  people.  But  if  he 
adhere  to  the  true  church,  if  he  join  himself  to 
those  children  of  God,  with  whom  the  world  will 
have  nothing  to  do,  and  if  he  do  this  with  sin- 
cerity and  without  hypocrisy,  what  more,  you 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.       31 

ask,  is  required  of  him  ?  Ah  !  my  brethren, 
very  much  more  is  required  of  him  ;  every  thing 
which  essentially  belongs  to  a  state  of  grace.  It 
is  true,  he  lives  in  connexion  with  God's  people, 
but  only  externally  :  not  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 
He  is  no  living  member  of  that  mystical  body,  of 
which  Christ  is  the  Head :  though  joined  to  it 
outwardly,  he  is  not  incorporated  with  it  vitally. 
He  is  no  fruitful  branch  of  the  true  Vine ;  he 
thrives  not  by  its  sap  and  life.  Though  exter- 
nally allied  to  it  by  some  human  and  perishable 
contrivance,  (as  fruit  tied  upon  a  bough  to  please 
children,)  he  has  not  vitally  grown  upon  it  in  the 
Spirit.  It  is  true,  if  we  look  at  his  understand- 
ing, we  see  nothing  of  Egyptian  darkness  there. 
He  is  acquainted  with  the  theory  of  the  gospel, 
and  shows  that  he  has  been  under  good  instruc- 
tion. He  knows  much  of  the  Bible  by  heart;  is 
conversant  with  devotional  writings,  and  can  re- 
late much  of  persons  awakened  and  born  again. 
But  all  this  is  nothing  more  than  an  artificial  re- 
pository, a  mere  human  work,  a  stock  of  know- 
ledge acquired  by  reading  and  hearing,  and  ela- 
borated by  thought  and  reflection.  He  has  had 
it  put  into  him,  preached  into  him,  inured  into 
him.  But  it  amounts,  after  all,  to  nothing  better 
than  an  acquired  habit,  inasmuch  as  he  is  not 
enlightened  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  he  is  not  taught 
of  God.  Hence  all  the  knowledge  he  has  ob- 
tained is  deposited  in  his  mind  like  dead  capital 
without  interest ;  or,  like  food  undigested,  and 


32  ISSACHAR  ;    OR, 

never  converted  to  the  purposes  of  life.  His 
spikenard  yields  no  fragrance. 

If  we  look  at  his  conduct  we  can  point  out 
nothing  in  it  that,  strictly  speaking,  contradicts 
his  profession.  His  character  is  unblemished  in 
the  eyes  of  men  :  he  lives  quiet  and  unobtrusive  ; 
his  habits  are  domestic  ;  he  is  an  honourable 
man,  and  reputable  ;  he  is  industrious  and  order- 
ly ;  frequents  only  Christian  societ)^,  and  despises 
the  gay  follies  of  the  world.  But,  after  all,  tell 
me,  my  brethren,  is  this  the  full  extent  of  that 
life  and  conversation  which  God  intends,  when, 
speaking  to  Abraham,  he  says,  "  I  am  the  Al- 
mighty God  ;  walk  before  me,  and  be  thou  per- 
fect ?"  Or  is  this  what  Isaiah  means,  when  he 
exclaims,  "  O  house  of  Jacob,  come  ye,  and  let 
us  walk  in  the  light  of  the  Lord  ?"  Or,  is  it  the 
meaning  of  the  apostle,  when  he  says,  "  Our 
conversation  is  in  heaven  ?"  and  again,  "  If  we 
live  in  the  Spirit,  let  us  also  walk  in  the  Spirit?" 
Is  there  in  the  life  of  such  an  individual  any  fruit 
of  the  Spirit,  or  does  it  run  along  like  a  clear 
brook,  flowing  from  the  ground  of  the  renewed 
heart  ?  Alas  !  it  is  no  such  thing.  It  is  partly 
the  effect  of  good  education  and  habit,  or  of  fre- 
quenting good  society  :  partly  a  presumptive  and 
eclectic  spirituality,  an  acquired  goodness  of  his 
own  ;  a  work  which  the  Holy  Spirit  will  never 
acknowledo^e  as  of  His  operation,  because  he 
verily  hath  borne  no  part  in  it. 

Again  ;  if  we  look  at  such  a  person's  religious 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    TOE    BORDERS.      33 

exercises,  all  appears  very  pleasing  to  the  eye. 
But  are  those  prayers  which  he  daily  offers  up, 
are  those  praises  in  which  he  joins  with  the  great 
congregation,  or  at  home  with  his  family,  to  be 
regarded  as  the  incense  which  is  first  given  of 
God,  and  then  in  grateful  sacrifice  returned  to 
him  ;  having  been  kindled  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
himself,  and  presented  to  the  Lord,  in  the  cen- 
ser of  a  broken  and  contrite  heart?  Oh  no  !  he 
prays,  because  he  has  been  taught  that  it  is  right 
to  do  so ;  not  because  he  cannot  live  without 
prayer.  He  prays  ;  but  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
within  him. 

How  pitiable  then  is  his  settled  condition  be- 
tween the  borders !  He  is  a  nominal  Chris- 
tian without  a  birth  into  a  new  life  ;  he  acknow- 
ledges the  corruption  of  human  nature  without 
feeling  his  own  ;  he  is  conversant  with  spiritual 
things,  but  not  truly  enlightened  in  them  ;  he 
professes  to  believe  in  Jesus,  but  is  insensible  of 
his  need  of  Him ;  he  numbers  himvself  among 
the  saints,  without  being  one ;  he  knows  how 
to  talk  of  a  life  of  grace,  without  having  entered 
upon  it ;  he  imagines  his  life  and  conversation 
to  be  qmte  Christian,  and  yet  is  in  thought  and 
disposition  no  better  than  a  natural  man.  His 
heart  and  mind  are  unchanged.  He  has  not 
"  put  off  the  old  man  with  his  deeds,  and  put  on 
the  new  man,  which,  after  the  image  of  God,  is 
created  in  righteousness  and  true  holiness."  Crea- 
tion of  every  kind  is  the  work  of  God  ;  but  such 
3* 


34 

a  person's  Christianity  is  a  work  of  his  own. 
The  old  man  in  his  nature  has  put  on  the  garb 
of  piety  ;  and  that  is  all.  Such  is  his  condition. 
He  is  gone  out  of  the  world  in  some  sense  ;  but 
he  is  far  from  having  really  entered  into  the 
kingdom  of  grace.  His  exterior  is  Christian- 
like,  and  his  manner  of  talking  and  acting  is 
correct ;  but  he  wants  the  life  of  God  in  his 
soul ;  his  heart  is  not  renewed.  He  is  "  couch- 
ed down  between  the  borders." 

n.  How  did  he  come  into  this  condition  ? 
"  He  saw  rest,  that  it  was  good  ;  and  the  land, 
that  it  was  pleasant." 

What  he  has  become,  is  not  by  our  heavenly 
Father  drawing  him,  neither  is  it  by  the  call  of 
his  grace  in  Christ,  nor  by  the  special  operation 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  is  become  what  he  is  by 
his  own  choice,  by  the  suggestion  of  his  own 
mind,  and  by  an  incitement  ol  his  own  natural 
heart.  Was  it  the  sorrow  for  sin  that  occasion- 
ed him  embracing  the  gospel  ?  Was  it  the 
dread  of  Sinai's  reiterated  thunder,  or  of  the 
curses  pronounced  from  Mount  Ebal  ?  Was  it 
any  real  longing  for  redemption,  any  anxious 
concern  to  obtain  spiritual  health  and  deliver- 
ance ?  Nothing  of  the  kind  can  be  asserted  re- 
specting him  ;  for  very  different  desires  and  in- 
terests moved  him  to  become  a  professed  Chris- 
tian. 

"  He  saw  rest,"  or  repose,  "  that  it  was  good." 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.        35 

What  rest  or  repose  ?  Was  it  rest  for  his  soul 
ill  Christ  7  Was  it  peace  with  God  ?  Was  it 
repose  in  the  great  Redeemer's  merits  7  Was  it 
a  release  from  the  burden  and  curse  of  sin? 
Was  it  dehverance  from  the  servile  drudgery  of 
legal  bondage  ?  Oh  no  !  quite  another  repose 
attracted  him,  and  provoked  his  longing  desire. 
"  He  saw  the  land  that  it  was  pleasant."  What 
land  ?  Was  it  that  better  country,  namely,  the 
heavenly?  Was  it  that  blissful  and  glorious  re- 
gion of  light  and  love,  in  a  superior  state  of  be- 
ing, unto  which  Jesus  himself  is  the  Way  and 
the  Door  ?  Or,  was  it  even  that  region  of  grace 
here  on  earth,  wherein  his  people  live  by  his 
dew  and  sunshine  ?  Did  his  soul  really  desire 
this  ?  Did  he  long  after  it  ?  Nothing  of  the 
kind  can  be  said  of  him.  Very  different  induce- 
ments was  he  conscious  of 

It  is  sometimes  one  thing,  and  sometimes  ano- 
ther, which  leads  persons  of  this  character  into 
their  dubious  situation  between  the  borders. 
Some  are  attracted  by  the  harmony  and  mutual 
love  which  they  find  among  those  who  are  quiet 
in  the  land.  Such  an  one  has  perhaps  had  pain- 
ful experience  of  the  falsehood  and  selfishness 
of  the  world.  He  has  learnt,  to  his  cost,  that 
persons  without  religious  principle  always  prove 
unworthy  of  confidence,  and  that  the  world 
abounds  with  strife  and  rancour.  He  has  look- 
ed for  friends  among  them,  and  been  miserably 
disappointed.    He,  therefore,  turns  his  attention 


36  ISSACHAR  ,    OR 


to  the  religious  community.  He  observes  how 
much  real  Christians  appear  to  be  of  one  heart 
and  one  soul ;  how  they  are  united  in  affection 
and  fidelity,  and  serve  one  another  as  brethren  of 
the  same  family.  This  just  suits  his  own  taste 
and  convenience.  He  sees  all  this,  that  it  is 
good  ;  and  he  resolves  to  join  himself  to  the  com- 
pany of  the  godly. 

Another  has  naturally  a  soft  and  yielding  dis- 
position. He  is  easily  affected  and  influenced. 
He  loves  solemn  sights  and  scenes,  on  account 
of  the  agreeable  emotions  which  they  excite 
within  him.  Hence  he  is  charmed  with  the 
manner  of  life  which  he  sees  in  the  people  of 
God  ;  with  the  animated  devotion  of  their  wor- 
ship ;  with  the  soothing  and  elevated  strain  of 
their  singing  and  praying.  He  beholds  the  land 
that  it  is  pleasant ;  and  from  his  own  reflection 
and  feeling  he  says  in  his  heart,  "  It  is  good  to 
be  here  : — let  us  build  tabernacles." 

Another  has  a  natural  inclination  to  thought 
and  inquiry.  This  leads  him  to  search  the 
Scriptures,  where  he  finds  abundance  for  his 
mind  to  feed  upon,  and  to  exercise  his  quickness 
of  understanding.  With  lively  interest  he  gives 
himself  to  reading  and  research,  and  feels  plea- 
sure in  his  intercourse  with  those  who  revere  the 
sacred  volume,  and  make  it  the  directory  of  their 
families  and  their  lives.  He  becomes  deeply  in- 
terested in  conversing  with  them  upon  Chris- 
tian opinions  and  views  ;  he  enjoys  religious  dis- 


TOUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.        37 

CLissions  and  conversations.  Thus,  from  his 
own  choice  he  joins  the  people  of  God,  without 
having  admitted  into  his  heart,  the  seed  of  the 
new  birth  from  the  word  of  life. 

Another,  from  being  naturally  gifted  with  a 
keen  perception  of  what  is  intellectually  beauti- 
f?.il,  is  charmed  with  the  sublimity  of  the  inspired 
writings.  The  moving  descriptions,  the  lumi- 
nous imagery,  the  parabolic  language,  the  lovely 
and  touching  scenes  with  which  Scripture 
abounds,  beget  in  him  a  kind  of  enthusiasm.  But 
then  he  can  read,  with  the  same  enthusiasm,  the 
splendid  productions  of  profane  poets  ;  and  it  is 
evident  that  he  joins  Christian  society  as  a  mere 
matter  of  taste :  as  he  evinces  no  conversioH  to 
brokenness  and  contrition  of  heart.  He  has  seen 
that,  in  the  families  of  the  pious,  there  is  far  more 
regularity  and  union,  than  among  people  of  the 
world.  In  the  peace,  the  quietness,  the  mutual 
affection,  and  the  constant  cheerfulness  which  he 
notices  as  so  peculiar  to  them :  in  a  word,  in  the 
blessing  of  God  which  he  thinks  he  sees  attend- 
ing them,  and  which  he  considers  tnust  be  upon 
them,  and  upon  all  their  concerns,  he  finds 
something  very  desirable,  especially  when  he 
contrasts  their  families  with  his  own.  He  be- 
holds this  repose,  that  it  is  good.  He  is  weary 
of  the  incessant  noise  and  wrangling  of  persons 
immediately  about  him.  He  determines  to  re- 
form his  own  family,  by  introducing  religion  into 
it ;   and  he  introduces  it  outwardly  accordingly. 


33  issachar;  or,  ; 

He  adopts  family  reading,  singing  and  prayer; 
he  sees  a  check  put  upon  the  partings  and  petty 
discords  which  hitherto  prevailed  ;  the  house  is 
quite  reformed  :  yes,  indeed  the  house,  but  not  the 
heart.  The  image,  the  frame-work  of  religion 
is  here,  but  the  true  spirit  and  life  of  it  are  want- 
ing. The  outward  man  has  abandoned  the 
world  ;  but  the  world  has  not  abandoned  the  in- 
ward man.  The  dress  is  changed,  but  the  per- 
son remains  the  same. 

In  such  various  ways  men  may  be  spiritually 
couching  down  between  the  borders.  "  He  sa\y 
rest,  that  it  was  good  ;  and  the  land,  that  it  was 
pleasant."  Thus  it  may  be  no  real  longing  for 
reconciliation  with  God,  no  hunger  for  Christ's 
righteousness,  no  thirst  for  the  graces  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  which  induces  them  to  renounce  the 
world,  and  to  join  the  people  of  the  Lord.  The 
mere  privileges  and  advantages  belonging  to  the 
children  of  God  in  this  life  may  have  been  all 
they  have  wished  to  share  in  ;  and  for  the  sake 
of  these,  they  may,  simply  of  their  natural  mind, 
have  chosen  to  become  quiet,  retired,  and  atten- 
tive to  religious  services,  with  a  will-worship 
and  pains-taking  of  their  own.  They  undertake 
to  be  Christians,  as  they  would  undertake  the 
business  of  a  trade,  or  the  study  and  practice  of 
an  art  or  science  ;  and  they  easily  learn  to  as- 
sume and  decorate  themselves  with  the  exterior 
graces  of  Christianity.  Only  two  things  they  ap- 
pear to  want;  and  with  these,  they  want  every 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.        39 

thing  which  essentially  constitutes  a  child  of 
God ;  first,  a  broken,  contrite  heart,  wherein 
alone  the  Lord  will  condescend  to  dwell ;  and 
secondly,  the  Spirit  of  Christ ;  concerning  whom 
it  is  written,  "  If  any  man  have  not  the  Spirit  of 
Christ,  he  is  none  of  his." 

Having  thus  learnt  what  is  this  situation  be- 
tween the  borders,  and  how  he  came  into  it,  let 
us, 

III.  In  the  last  place,  briefly  notice  the  spirit- 
ual toils  and  pains  that  necessarily  attend  this 
state,  as  also  the  fearful  perils  which  surround  it. 

This  toilsome  and  harrassing  condition  is  de- 
picted in  the  words,  "  He  bowed  his  shoulder  to 
bear,  and  became  a  servant  unto  tribute."  Hav- 
ing bowed  his  shoulder  to  bear,  he  has  a  burden 
laid  upon  him,  under  which  he  sighs  and  groans  ; 
and  this  burden  is — not  the  burden  of  sin  ! 
Would  that  he  felt  this,  for  his  state  would  then 
soon  begin  to  amend.  But  this  burden  is,  alas  ! 
his  Christianity  itself :  that  notional  Christianity, 
to  the  drudgery  of  which  his  own  wisdom  has 
allied  him.  Our  blessed  Saviour  has  said  in- 
deed, "  My  yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden  is 
light ;"  but  the  truth  of  this  from  personal  expe- 
rience, the  self-enslaved  borderer  is  at  a  loss  to 
prove.  Here  then  we  are  reminded  of  those 
words  of  the  prophet  Isaiah,  "  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass  in  that  day,"  (namely  in  the  days  of  the 
new  covenant,)  "  that  his  burden  shall  be  taken 


40 

away  from  off  thy  shoulder,  and  his  yoke  from 
off  thy  neck,  and  the  yoke  shall  be  destroyed  be- 
cause of  the  anointing,"  Isa.  x.  27.  As  the  yoke 
upon  the  animal  easily  slips  off,  when  its  neck  is 
well  anointed  with  oil,  so  when  we  are  anointed 
with  the  oil  of  grace  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the 
spiritual  burden  begins  to  slip  from  off  our  shoul- 
der, the  law  and  service  of  God  are  no  longer 
felt  to  be  a  galling  and  fretting  yoke,  but  perfect 
freedom,  delight,  and  joy.  But  Issachar  being 
without  this  unction  of  the  Holy  One,  his  shoul- 
der bows  and  sinks  under  its  burden.  He  has 
not  gone  to  the  Lord  Jesus  with  all  his  heart,  as 
an  empty  vessel,  broken  open  by  repentance  and 
a  sense  of  want,  to  receive  out  of  His  fulness  all 
needful  grace  and  streno^th.  Having  converted 
himself  J  now  he  would  become  holy,  and  walk 
after  the  manner  of  Christians,  at  his  own  ex- 
pense, and  by  his  own  endeavours.  He  would 
do  as  other  Christians  do,  and  he  would  rise  in 
devotion  as  they  ;  but  he  does  not  consider  that 
he  wants  wings  for  the  purpose.  He  would  sing 
as  they,  and  he  would  pray  as  they,  but  he  wants 
incitement,  delight,  and  breath  for  it.  In  this 
unhappy  state,  he  would  fulfil  the  law  of  God, 
but  has  no  filial  motive  for  doing  it ;  no  love,  no 
cheerfulness,  no  strength.  It  is  a  vassal  service, 
wherein  he  labours  and  pants ;  he  disquieteth 
himself  in  vain  with  his  will-worship,  his  self- 
edifying,  his  own  self-dependent  devices  for  ho- 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.       41 

liness.     His  are  pains  without  gains ;  work  with- 
out wages. 

Having  thus  "bow"ed  his  shoulder  to  bear,"  he 
is  "  become  a  servant  unto  tribute."  This  ex- 
pression is  mournfully  appropriate.  For  his 
prayers  morning  and  evening,  his  formal  ejacu- 
lations before  and  after  meals,  hissino:ino:and  de- 
votional  exercises,  what  are  they  but  so  many 
payments  of  tribute,  which,  having  to  bring  it 
daily  and  duly,  he  brings,  not  with  the  cheerful 
freedom  of  a  child  of  God,  but  like  a  bond-slave, 
with  constraint  and  weariness  !  As  he  has  never 
felt  his  need  of  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of 
grace  and  supplications,  so  he  has  never  desired 
nor  waited  for  it.  Hence  his  religious  exercises 
are  forced,  his  holy  services  are  extorted  from 
him,  by  fear  ;  all  is  mere  human  performance, 
because  he  lives  not  in  the  true  union  of  spirit 
with  Him  who  is  the  life  of  the  soul.  The  ser- 
vices of  those  who  are  born  again,  are  yielded 
from  the  heart,  and  flow  from  it  as  freely  as 
streams  from  the  fountain  ;  but  he  is  a  well  with- 
out water  :  how  should  any  stream  flow  from 
thence !  Feeling  bound,  at  the  return  of  set 
times  and  seasons,  to  pay  his  scot  of  prayer  and 
religion,  he  brings  his  tribute  money,  casts  it 
down  at  the  Divine  footstool,  and  renders,  as  he 
thinks,  unto  God,  the  things  which  are  God's. 
But  the  tribute  money  is  stamped  with  a  wrong 
impression  ;  it  bears  the  image  and  superscrip- 
tion of  "  the  first  man,"  who  "  is  of  the  earth, 
4 


42  ISSACHAR  }   OR, 

earthy;*'  not  of  "the  Second  Man,"  who  is  the 
"  Lord  from  heaven  ;"  consequently  it  can  never 
be  deposited  in  God's  treasury.  Lo,  such  is  he  ! 
not  a  child  in  the  family,  but  a  poor,  mean  ser- 
vant under  tribute,  who  having  nothing,  yet  is 
constrained  to  payment  ;  and,  which  is  worse 
than  all,  pays  in  coin  that  is  refused  and  thrown 
back  at  his  feet  as  base  and  counterfeit.  He  is  a 
burden-bearer,  labouring  under  the  self-imposed 
drudgery  of  his  own  will- worship,  and  wearing 
out  his  days  and  strength  under  the  fretting  yoke 
of  legal  bondage,  as  ignorant  of  the  cheerfulness 
and  freedom  of  spiritual  life,  as  is  any  poor  beast 
of  burden. 

And  oh,  by  what  a  variety  of  dangers  is  his 
soul  surrounded  !  The  very  thought  of  these  is 
sufficient  to  cause  trembling  of  hands  and  sorrow 
of  heart.  For  here  is  a  person,  who  with  all  his 
miserable  blindness,  imagines  himself  actually 
within  the  kingdom  of  grace  upon  earth,  and  yet 
as  truly  belongs  to  "  them  that  are  without,"  as 
do  the  grossest  sinners  of  the  world.  He  has 
succeeded  tolerably  well  in  conforming  his  exte- 
rior habits  to  those  of  the  children  of  God  ;  and 
thus  he  has  fallen  into  the  miserable  error  that 
he  is  really  one  of  them.  Moreover,  he  is  often 
regarded  and  treated  by  them  as  one  of  them- 
selves ;  and  this  serves  to  confirm  him  in  his  in- 
fatuation, so  that  he  couches  down  the  more  se- 
curely between  the  borders.  Thus  he  most  pitia- 
bly imagines  himself  to  be  dweUing  in  Canaan, 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.        43 

while  his  tent  is  at  the  ed^e  of  Tophet,  and  at 
the  brink  of  the  valley  of  slaughter.  He  dreams 
of  being  in  Jerusalem,  but  alas  !  he  is  encamped 
very  near  the  Dead  Sea,  and  not  far  from  Admah 
and  Zeboim.  And  when  "  the  Lord  cometh  in 
flaming  fire,  to  take  vengeance  on  all  that  know 
not  God,  nor  obey  the  gospel,"  how  can  he  spare 
such  an  one  !  The  Judge  thus  finding  him  only 
between  the  borders,  must  surely  sweep  him 
away,  and  assign  him  his  portion  with  the  unbe- 
lievers. 

Come  then  at  once  before  God,  whoever  you 
are  that  think  yourselves  in  communion  with  the 
Jerusalem  which  is  above,  and  breathe  out  to 
him  from  your  inmost  souls,  ''Search  me,  O  God, 
and  know  my  heart:  try  me,  and  know  my 
thoughts  ;  and  see  if  there  beany  wicked  way  in 
me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting,"  Psa. 
cxxxix.  23,  24.  Be  well  assured,  that  in  the  last 
day,  nothing  will  avail,  except  what  the  Holy 
Spirit  has  produced,  borne  witness  to,  and  per- 
fected in  us.  Every  arbitrary  device  of  our  own, 
every  mere  human  work,  will  then  be  burnt  up 
as  wood,  hay,  and  stubble.  All  dependence  on 
factitious  spirituality,  will-worship,  and  self-in- 
vented piety,  all  our  own  righteousness  and  ima- 
ginary sanctity,  will  be  treated  as  a  thing  null 
and  void,  whose  blossom  will  go  up  as  dust.  No 
other  knowledge  will  then  be  inquired  after,  save 
what   you  have  learnt  by  the  teaching  of  the 


44 


Holy  Spirit.  It  will  not  be  asked  in  that  day, 
hoiD  much  you  have  prayed  or  sung,  but  whether 
you  have  sung  and  prayed  in  spirit  and  in  truth, 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit 
of  our  God.  It  will  not  be  inquired  whether  you 
have  stood  well  in  the  esteem  and  connexion  of 
believers  upon  earth,  but  whether  you  have  real- 
ly lived  in  communion  with  Him  who  is  the  true 
God,  and  eternal  life ;  and  have  grown  up  into 
Him  in  all  things,  who  is  the  Head,  even  Christ. 
Alas  !  how  many  are  there  in  what  is  called  the 
"  Christian  world  "  around  us,  who  are  conver- 
sant with  all  religious  society,  and  nevertheless 
couch  down  only  between  the  borders  !  having, 
for  one  reason  or  another,  espoused  the  profes- 
sion of  godliness  under  the  influence  of  their 
fellow-men,  rather  than  of  the  renewing  Spirit  of 
God.  May  the  Lord  have  mercy  upon  them, 
and  open  their  eyes  to  see,  that  though  they  have 
free  intercourse  with  real  Christians,  they  are 
merely  dazzled  with  their  own  good  exterior  ! 
Where  is  the  broken  spirit,  the  contrite  heart,  the 
budding  of  regeneration,  the  new  creature,  the 
genuine  thirst  for  inward  purification  by  faith  in 
Christ,  the  fervent,  heart-praying  desire  to  know 
Him  in  the  power  of  His  resurrection,  the  fellow- 
ship of  His  sufferings,  the  conformity  to  His 
death  ?  Where  is  all  this,  which,  as  the  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  can  alone  constitute  the  real 
Christian  ?  It  is  wanting ;  and  the  wretched 
soul  knoweth  it  not.     May  the  God  of  all  grace 


COUCHING    BETWEEN    THE    BORDERS.        45 

preserve  us  from  such  awful  self-deceivings,  the 
end  of  which  is  everlasting  destruction  !  Let 
this  consideration  deter  us  from  a  perilous  settle- 
ment between  the  borders  ;  that  "  in  simplicity 
and  godly  sincerity,  not  with  fleshly  wisdom, 
but  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  may  have  our  con- 
versation in  the  world."  For  "  by  the  grace  of 
God,"  saith  the  apostle,  ''  I  am  what  I  am  ;"  and 
to  the  same  effect  is  that  utterance  of  the  perfect 
and  upright  Job,  "  The  Spirit  of  God  hath  made 
me,  and  the  breath  of  the  Almighty  hath  given 
me  life/'  Job  xxxiii.  4. 


THE  MORE  THAN  PAREINTAL  LOVE 
OF  GOD. 


Isaiah  xlix.  14 — 16. 

But  Zion  said,  The  Lord  hath  forsaken  me,  and  my  Lord  hath 
forgotten  me.  Can  a  woman  forget  her  sucking  child,  that  she 
should  not  have  compassion  on  the  son  of  her  womb  ?  Yea, 
they  may  forget,  yet  will  I  not  forget  thee.  Behold,  I  have 
graven  thee  upon  the  pahns  of  my  hands ;  thy  walls  are 
continually  before  me. 

What  a  saying  of  God  is  this  !  Wliat  an  ex- 
ceeding great  and  precious  promise  !  It  is  a  fruit 
tree  by  a  fountain  in  the  wilderness;  where 
many  a  pilgrim  has,  from  age  to  age,  shaken  off 
the  golden  fruit  for  his  refreshment :  neither  does 
its  leaf  wither ;  but  it  thrives  and  blooms,  and 
bears  abundantly  unto  this  hour.  Shake  it  only, 
O  troubled  soul,  and  it  will  yield  thee  a  rich  sup- 
ply.    Let  us  notice, 

I.  Zion's  building. 
n.  Zion's  complaint. 
HI.  God's  promise. 

I.  '•'  Zion"  here  signifies  the  true  Church  ;  born 
from  above,  by  water  and  the  Spirit.  Elsewhere 
she  is  called  Jerusalem  ;  and  very  frequently  is 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OF    GOD.  4/ 

she  spoken  of  as  a  city  or  building.  Thus,  St.  Pe- 
ter saith,  "  Ye  also,  as  lively  stones,  are  built  up  a 
spiritual  house."  A  very  expressive  and  com- 
prehensive similitude  of  the  true  Church. 

If  we  inquire,  first,  who  is  her  builder ^  we  find 
that  there  is  but  one  who  can  properly  be  called 
by  this  name.  The  founder  of  the  true  Church  is 
He  by  whom  God  made  the  worlds ;  therefore 
she  is  called  "  The  city  of  the  Lord,  The  Zion  of 
the  Holy  One  of  Israel,"  Isa.  Ix.  14.  The  plan 
of  Zion's  buildinof  is  older  than  the  world  itself. 
Before  the  foundations  of  the  earth  were  laid,  it 
was  designed  and  drawn  out  in  the  everlasting 
purpose  of  God.  Its  height,  and  depth,  and 
breadth,  and  length,  were  all  accurately  laid 
down  ;  the  time  for  its  completion  was  minutely 
predetermined  ;  its  very  stones  were  numbered, 
and  the  places  appointed  where  they  should  be 
hewn  and  fashioned.  Nearly  six  thousand  years 
ago,  did  the  blessed  God  commence  the  building, 
and  it  is  going  on  at  this  day  exacdy  after  the 
original  plan.  The  Lord  buildeth  up  Zion,  and 
he  buildeth  alone ;  absolutely  and  entirely  alone  ; 
no  stranger  can  dare  to  put  a  hand  to  the  work. 
Whenever  he  uses  any  of  us  as  his  under-builders, 
he  first  makes  us  sensible  of  our  own  weakness; 
the  excellency  of  the  power  is  of  him,  and  not  of 
us.  When  experience  has  taught  us,  that  of 
ourselves  we  can  do  nothing ;  when,  like  Jacob, 
we  are  obliged  to  halt  on  the  shrunk  limb  which 
God  has  touched,  then  only  will  he  make  use  of 


4S  THE    MORE    THAN 

US.  He  who  will  have  the  temple  to  be  built 
unto  his  own  glory,  he  alone  will  be  the  Builder. 
He  is  jealous  for  the  glory  of  his  holy  name. 

If  we  inquire  concerning  the  foundation  of 
the  true  Church,  an  apostle  meets  ws  with  an 
answer :  "  Other  foundation  can  no  man  lay 
than  that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ."  The 
God-Man  is  the  Foundation.  If  any  other  Christ 
be  professed,  than  he  of  whom  the  Baptist  cried, 
"  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world :"  if  the  only  Blood-surety 
be  wanting,  with  his  all-sufficient  sacrifice,  with 
that  blood  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  there 
may  indeed  be  what  is  called  a  church,  but  it 
can  be  no  ^vgia-xov,  no  house  of  the  Lord.  The 
true  church  is  built  upon  Christ ;  not  merely 
as  he  is  a  good  man  ;  not  merely  as  he  deserves 
the  character  which  even  Pilate  could  not  but 
recognise  in  him,  saying,  "I  find  no  fault  in  this 
man ;"  nor  only  upon  such  a  Christ  as  infidel 
philosophers  and  mere  men  of  taste  can  very  well 
consent  to,  but  upon  the  whole  and  entire  Christ 
of  God  :  who,  though  "to  the  Jews  a  stumbling- 
block,  and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness,  is,  unto 
them  who  are  called,  both  Jews  and  Greeks, 
Christ  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of 
God." 

If  now  we  consider  the  building  itself,  it  con- 
sists of  stones,  and  of  lively  stones.  Stones  in- 
deed all  of  us  are  by  nature:  hard  and  cold 
stones,  dead  in  spiritual   life,   and  settled  and 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OF    GOD.  49 

fixed  in  the  earth  by  our  own  heaviness  and  in- 
ertness. How  many  have  sat  for  years  under 
the  gospel,  like  the  "children  sitting  in  the  mar- 
ket-place ;"  to  whom  it  may  equally  be  said, 
"We  have  piped  unto  you,  and  ye  have  not 
danced ;  we  have  mourned  unto  you,  and  ye 
have  not  lamented!"  The  rain,  the  sunshine, 
the  storm,  and  the  lightning,  have  from  time  to 
time,  descended  upon  them ;  but  still  they  re- 
main as  ever,  hard,  insensible,  and  unchanged. 
Is  not  this  the  quality  of  rocks  and  stones?  But, 
God  be  thanked,  that  "  he  is  able  of  these  stones 
to  raise  up  children  unto  Abraham ;"  and  it  is 
such  very  materials,  rough  and  refractory  as  they 
are,  that  God  has  selected  for  the  building  of  his 
spiritual  temple,  that  the  greatness  of  his  power 
and  wisdom  might  be  manifested.  It  is  not  of 
the  holy  angels  and  archangels,  nor  of  all  the 
company  of  heaven  ;  neither  is  it  of  the  fallen 
angels,  those  once  bright  morning- stars,  that  he 
constitutes  the  building  of  Zion  ;  but  it  is  of  the 
children  of  fallen  Adam,  who  were  perishing  in 
spiritual  death  and  misery.  He  who  has  under- 
taken every  concern  of  this  building,  has  made 
it  his  own  special  work  to  bring  forth  and  quali- 
fy the  stones  for  it.  His  evangelists,  and  the 
ministers  of  his  word,  who  are  styled  "  workers 
together  with  Him,"  cannot,  of  themselves  loosen 
and  bring  off  a  single  pebble  from  its  native  bed, 
except  he  speak  the  word  by  their  mouth,  and 
wield  the  hammer  in  their  hand.     Then  is  ful- 


50  THE    MORE    THAN 

filled  what  He  himself  declares,  "Is  not  my  word 
like  as  a  fire,  and  like  a  hammer  that  breaketh 
the  rock  in  pieces  ?"     Jer.  xxiii.  29. 

The  "  operations"  of  the  great  Master-builder 
are  not  uniform,  but  marked  by  "diversity." 
Some  stones  are  separated  from  their  quarry, 
and  brought  off  by  a  preparatory  process,  in  a 
gradual  and  gentle  manner.  Thus  a  Martha,  a 
Mary,  a  Lazarus,  and  others  like  them,  are  gent- 
ly dislodged  from  earthly  attachments,  and  fitted 
at  length  for  the  Lord's  service ;  while  over  a 
Peter,  a  Nicodemus,  and  others,  a  power  is  exer- 
cised, which  is  more  instant  and  imperative. 
Others  again  are  shivered  from  their  worldly 
holds,  as  by  an  explosion  of  rocks.  Such  was 
the  case  of  Saul  on  his  way  to  Damascus,  and 
that  of  the  jailor  at  Philippi.  A  report  is  heard, 
and  the  hard  stone  is  at  once  disengaged.  But 
when  may  one  be  truly  said  to  be  thus  disenga- 
ged ?  At  that  moment,  my  brethren,  when  he 
finds  himself  a  poor,  lost  sinner,  a  ruined  debtor, 
sensible  that  he  has  nothing  to  pay  ;  a  penitent 
mourner  over  his  own  moral  destitution.  Then 
is  he  loosed  indeed.  God  hath  broken  him  away, 
and  he  is  become  quite  another  man,  as  compa- 
red with  those  who  remain  embedded  in  the  ele- 
ments of  the  world  ;  he  is  become  a  "  lively 
stone,"  awakened  to  reflection,  and  crying  out 
unto  God.  Such  a  stone  the  great  Master-build- 
er takes  in  charge,  causes  it  to  be  fashioned  to  his 
mind  with  the  hammer  of  his  word,  and  polished 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OF    GOD.  51 


with  the  grinding  of  tribulation.  Thus  he  builds 
it  into  the  structure  of  his  temple,  on  Christ,  the 
sure  Foundation,  and  secures  it  with  the  cement- 
ing and  uniting  virtue  of  that  lively  faith  which 
is  of  his  own  operation.  There  shall  be  holy 
"  stones  set  up  in  his  land,"  saith  the  prophet 
Zechariah,  ix.  16;  and  the  Lord,  by  Ezekiel, 
speaks  even  of  Tyrus  as  ^^  set  upon  the  holy 
mountain  of  God,  and  walking  among  stones  of 
fire,"  Ezek.  xxviii.  14. 

If  we  closely  inspect  the  building,  we  find  the 
lively  stones  admirable  for  their  unity,  evenness, 
and  mutual  conformity.  From  whatever  quar- 
ter of  the  world  they  may  have  originated,  whe- 
ther from  Europe  or  Asia,  from  nations  white  or 
black,  from  savage  wilds  or  cultivated  regions, 
they  are  no  sooner  builded  together  into  this 
"■  habitation  of  God  through  the  Spirit,"  than 
they  are  all  alike  and  uniform.  Every  one  of 
them  appears  sprinkled  with  blood  ;  all  of  them 
are  dark  in  the  world's  eyes,  and  darker  in  their 
own  ;  but  in  the  eyes  of  God,  they  are  pure  as 
lilies,  and  white  as  snow.  They  are,  one  and  all, 
contrite  souls,  humbled  persons,  pilgrims  and 
strangers  in  the  earth  ;  having  no  continuing 
city  here,  but  seeking  that  which  is  to  come. 
They  are  all  sufferers  in  this  world,  "  groaning 
within  themselves,  and  wailing  for  the  adoption, 
to  wit,  the  redemption  of  their  body."  They  are 
all  saved ;  but  it  is  by  hope :  they  are  happy ; 
but  it  is  in  hope.     They  are  but  one  body,  and 


52  THE    MORE    THAN 

one  Spirit,  having  been  "called  in  one  hope  of 
their  calling."  Tiiey  have  one  Lord,  who  can 
command  them  from  the  cross ;  one  God  and 
Father  of  all,  who  hath  reconciled  them  unto 
himself,  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  They 
have  one  faith  ;  for  they  all  seek  their  life  out  of 
themselves  in  Christ.  Tliey  have  one  baptism, 
namely,  that  into  the  death  of  the  Second  Adam. 
Such  is  the  unity  of  the  true  church.  It  is  a 
perfect  unity  in  essentials,  and  in  its  nature  ;  but 
contains  the  most  manifold  variety  in  its  forms 
and  gifts.  "  Of  Zion  it  shall  be  said,  All  kinds 
of  people  are  born  in  her  ;"  sings  David,  Psalm 
Ixxxvii.  5.  They  are  all  born  of  God  ;  here  is 
their  unity  :  but  in  themselves  they  are  every 
variety  of  people.  "  Behold,"  saith  the  Lord 
unto  his  church,  Isa.  liv.  11,  "I  will  lay  thy 
stones  with  fair  colours,  and  lay  thy  foundations 
with  sapphires.  And  I  will  make  thy  windows 
of  agates,  and  thy  gates  of  carbuncles,  and  all 
thy  borders  of  pleasant  stones."  Precious  stones 
are  they  all,  and  their  variety  sets  off  their  beauty. 
Of  one,  hope  may  be  his  prevailing  characteris- 
tic ;  of  another,  seraphic  love  ;  a  third,  simple, 
childlike  humility ;  a  fourth,  clear  in  wisdom 
and  knowledge.  Some  are  contemplative,  and 
retiring  within ;  others  are  apostolical,  and  ac- 
tive abroad.  Some  are  babes  in  Christ ;  others 
are  young  men  or  fathers  in  the  Lord.  Some 
have  been  drawn  to  Christ  in  one  way,  others  in 
another. 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OF    GOD.  53 

II.  Zion's  complaint. 

We  have  heard  of  Zion,  the  city  and  dwelling- 
place  of  our  God  :  and  that  "  the  Lord  loveth  the 
gates  of  Zion,"  Psa.  Ixxxvii.  2.  But  how  faith- 
fnlly  and  ardently  he  loves  her,  she  herself  does 
not  always  consider.  Why  else  that  complaint 
which  now  comes  under  our  notice  ?  "  Zion 
saith,  The  Lord  hath  forsaken  me ;  and  my 
Lord  hath  forgotten  me,"  Isa.  xlix.  14.  O  Zion, 
complain  rather  of  thy  own  lui believing  heart ; 
for  if  thou  wouldest  believe,  thou  shouldest  see 
the  glory  of  God. 

It  is  acknowledged,  that  circumstances  may 
arise,  under  which  nothing  may  ■  appear  more 
just  than  this  complaint  of  Zion.  When,  in 
Noah's  time,  the  earth  was  filled  with  violence 
against  the  Lord  and  against  his  Anointed,  and 
the  people  of  God  had  dwindled  into  one  little 
family  ;  when,  in  the  days  of  the  kings  of  Israel 
and  Judah,  the  seed  of  Abraham  had  revolted 
from  Jehovah,  and  his  nominal  people  were  bow- 
ing their  knees  at  the  altars  of  Moloch  and  of 
Baal  ;  or  when,  in  a  subsequent  period, the  king 
of  Babylon  trampled  with  his  iron  chariots  upon 
Salem's  ashes,  and  afterwards  her  mighty  foe, 
Anticchus,  set  up  his  abomination  of  desolation 
upon  Jehovah's  altar,  and  caused  the  holy  vol- 
umes of  revelation  to  be  torn  in  pieces  and  scat- 
tereu  to  the  winds ;  when,  in  later  ages,  papal 
darkness  rested  upon  all  the  nations  of  Christen- 
5 


54 


THE    MORE    THAN 


dom  ;  and,  more  recently,  when  from  a  darkness 
of  yet  deeper  blackness,  from  a  national  delu- 
sion of  inlidelity,  from  a  godless  and  monstrous 
perversion  of  intellect,  there  arose  a  cry  against 
the  King  of  kings,  more  frantic,  if  possible,  than 
that  ancient  one  of  "  Crucify  him,  crucify 
him  ;"* — in  any  one  of  these  instances,  who 
could  blame  the  daughter  of  Zion  for  hanging 
her  harp  upon  the  willows,  covering  herself  with 
mourning  as  a  widow,  and  giving  vent  to  her 
grief  in  the  lamentation  before  us,  "The  Lord 
hath  forsaken  me,  and  my  Lord  hath  forgotten 
me  ?" 

But  what  are  thy  feelings  in  our  own  da}'', 
O  virgin  daughter  of  Zion  ?  Truly  the  times  to 
thee  now  are  pleasant  again.  We  behold  thee 
on  thy  tower  as  a  watcher,  surveying  and  con- 
sidering the  stability  of  God's  edifice  around 
thee  ;  and  lo  !  it  stands  magnificently,  and  is  in- 
creasing gloriously.  From  one  quarter  of  it  and 
from  another,  in  many  directions,  thou  hearest 
again  the  cry  of  "  Hosannah  !  Blessed  be  He 
that  Cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord."  There 
is  a  testimony  and  a  praise  re-awakened  in  the 
land,  where  all  was  lately  sad  and  still  as  death ; 
and  it  is  a  testimony  concerning  Him  whom  thou 
lovest.  The  banner  of  the  cross  is  again  un- 
furled.    Yernal  beams  shine  down  from  behind 


+  Witness    Voltaire's  repeated  blasphemy,     ''Crush  the 
wretch  '."—Translator. 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OF    GOD.  55 

many  a  dark  cloud ;  and  gracious  showers  are 
descending  here  and  there  upon  God's  inherit- 
ance. Our  young  men  see  visions,  and  our  old 
men  dream  heavenly  dreams  of  better  things 
arriving  ;  at  all  which,  thou  canst  not  forbear 
to  take  the  harp  down  once  more  from  the  wil- 
lows, and  to  sing  to  the  Lord  a  new  song,  as 
terrible  among  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this 
world.  Nevertheless,  shall  any  ask  thee,  "  Watch- 
er, what  of  the  night  ?  Is  it  quite  passed  away  ?" 
Then  wilt  thou  be  obliged  to  answer,  nor  canst 
thou  do  it  without  tears,  "The  morning cometh  : 
still,  as  yet  there  will  be  night.  If  ye  inquire 
already,  yet  must  ye  return,  come,  and  inquire 
again."  Thou  considerest  how  thou  art  really 
as  yet  but  as  the  «  worm  Jacob,"  and  as  a  solitary 
"  cottage  in  a  vineyard."  Thou  considerest  how 
as  yet  the  ways  of  Zion  do  mourn  and  lie  deso- 
late in  a  thousand  directions  ;  how  her  priests 
sigh,  and  her  virgins  are  afflicted.  Lam.  i.  4. 
Grief  dims  thine  eyes,  with  beholding  the  num- 
berless bands  of  hirelings  in  and  out  of  the  pul- 
pit ;  all  of  whom  are  busied  every  where  about 
leading  the  people  astray :  avoiding  Calvary,  and 
directing  their  course  to  the  regions  of  curse  and 
perdition.  Thou  dost  sicken  at  surveying  the 
seduced  millions  of  the  flock,  who  cannot  endure 
to  hear  of  the  Great  Shepherd,  and  most  unac- 
countably choosing  death  rather  than  life.  And 
while  thou  art  witnessing  all  this  gloom,  this 
thick  darkness,  in  every  direction,  what  wonder 


56  THR    MORE    THAN 

if  thy  heart  almost  break,  or  if  the  old  complaint 
be  ready  a^aiii  to  start  from  thy  lips,  "The  Lord 
hath  forsaken  me,  and  my  Lord  hath  forgotten 
me  !" 

But  though  the  church  of  Christ  do  not,  as  a 
body,  take  up  such  a  complaint  as  this  at  pre- 
sent; yet  it  is  too  obvious,  that,  in  the  hearts  of 
individual  children  of  Zion,  thoughts  of  the  kind 
are  stili  awake.  Enough  of  this  is  perceptible 
in  all  quarters,  to  those  who  are  well  acquainted 
with  God's  people,  and  have  an  ear  open  to  their 
sighs  ;  so  that  it  is  often  implied,  if  not  expressed, 
"  The  Lord  hath  forsaken  me,  and  my  Lord  hath 
forgotten  me."  Lo !  one  poor  penitent  mourns 
apart,  smites  upon  his  breast,  and  cries,  "  God  be 
merciful  unto  me  a  sinner  !"  But  he  has  not  yet 
learnt  to  behold  the  kindness  and  love  of  God 
our  Saviour  ;  hence  he  can  think  of  nothing  else, 
but,  "  The  Lord  hath  forsaken  me,  and  my  Lord 
hath  forgotten  me."  Another  wrestles  in  hard 
conflict  with  sin  and  Satan  ;  and,  however  much 
he  strives  to  overcome  the  wicked  one,  or  to  sub- 
due his  own  failings  and  corruptions,  they  still 
revive,  and  so  prevail,  that  this  soldier  of  Jesus 
Christ,  at  length,  sinks  down  and  cries,  "  Why 
am  I  thus  forsaken  ?"  Another  sits  in  the  dark- 
ness of  horrible  doubts  and  fears,  which  cause  his 
very  limbs  to  shake.  He  despairingly  doubts  of 
his  state  of  grace  ;  he  doubts  about  the  truth  of 
Christ  and  his  love  ;  so  that  his  heart  is  tortured 
with  surmising,  "  The  Lord  hath  forsaken  me, 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OP    GOD.  57 

and  my  Lord  hath  forgotten  me."  Another  has 
long  been  fainting  in  the  heat  of  outward  tribu- 
lation, and  still  the  Lord  delays  his  deliverance. 
Meanwhile  the  enemy  triumphs,  and  suggests, 
"  Where  is  now  thy, God?"  and,  alas!  his  God 
does  not  at  present  appear  for  him.  The  paths 
of  Jehovah  still  remain  in  the  deep  waters,  and 
he  hideth  his  head  in  the  clouds,  so  that  even 
the  friends  of  such  an  individual  may  be  apt  to 
say,  "Surely,  if  you  were  sincerely  seekuig  the 
Lord,  he  would  not  thus  afflict  you."  Hence  the 
poor  sinner  begins  to  despond,  and  to  conclude 
that  the  Lord  has  indeed  forsaken  him.  Be  the 
occasion,  however,  what  it  may,  such  a  complaint 
is  not  unfrequent  amongst  us.  With  one  and 
another  of  us  is  it  found  ;  in  this  or  that  secret 
chamber,  it  is  even  loud  at  times ;  and  not  a  few,  it 
is  feared,  thus  howl  upon  their  beds,  with  many  a 
tear  and  many  a  wakeful  night,  when  the  world 
is  asleep,  and  people  are  in  deep  slumber  about 
them. 

But  come  hitlier,  ye  godly  sorrowing  and 
troubled  souls, — for  with  the  sorrow  of  the  world 
that  worketh  death,  we  intermeddle  not,— come 
hither,  and  think  not  that  we  mean  to  rebuke 
you  for  your  unbelief;  this  is  neither  a  duty  of 
our  office,  nor  doth  the  Lord  rebuke  you.  Do 
we  then  undertake  to  comfort  you  ?  This 
also  is  beyond  our  ability.  Nevertheless,  dear 
brethren,  there  is  One  always  present  with  us, 
who  is  both  able  and  willing  to  impart  to  you 
5* 


58  THE    MORE    THAN 

the  needful  consolation.  "  Thy  Redeemer  is 
mighty,  the  Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name."  He  hath 
heard  your  cry ;  he  hath  seen  your  tears ;  and 
tender  mercies  are  over  you,  his  weeping  chil- 
dren. Behold,  he  is  now  present  in  the  midst  of 
us.  Lift  up,  therefore,  your  eyes  to  the  Lord, 
and  his  throne  of  grace ;  for  the  light  of  his 
countenance  already  shines  upon  you.  Recog- 
nize that  tender  love  and  compassion  which  are 
even  at  this  moment  proceeding  from  him.  Flee 
to  his  outstretched  arms  of  more  than  parental 
faithfulness,  and  repose  your  cares  in  the  ever- 
wakeful  bosom  of  his  "  loving  mercy  and  truth." 
Yea,  and  once  more  hearken  to  his  voice ;  for  he 
has  a  special  word  addressed  to  t/ou.  It  is  a 
word  of  consolation  ;  a  word  which  can  once  for 
all  be  the  means  of  transforming  your  darkness 
into  everlasting  noon.     Observe, 

IIL  God's  promise. 

He  declares,  "  Can  a  woman  forget  her  suck- 
ing child,  that  she  should  not  have  compassion 
on  the  son  of  her  womb  ?  Yea,  they  may  for- 
get ;  yet  will  1  not  forget  thee.  Behold,  I  have 
graven  thee  upon  the  palms  of  my  hands;  thy 
walls  are  continually  before  me."  What  an  ap- 
peal is  this  to  our  hearts  !  what  grace,  mercy, 
and  peace  are  here  !  Ponder  each  word  of  this 
oracle  distinctly,  my  brethren  ;  enter  into  its  full 
meaning  ;  leave  not  any  part  of  it  unconsidered, 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OP    GOD.  59 

and  then  say  if  it  is  not  enough.  If  it  be  an  un- 
speakable privilege  to  be  permitted  to  come  be- 
fore the  Almighty,  and  to  say,  "My  God,  my 
God  ;"  if  it  be  a  still  greater  privilege  to  cry  "  Ab- 
ba, Father  !" — what  must  it  be  to  have  God  ex- 
postulating with  us  more  tenderly  than  the  ten- 
derest  mother  ! 

"  O  thou  afflicted,  tossed  with  tempest,  and  not 
comforted,"  think  to  what  the  Lord  here  com- 
pares his  love,  and  how  iiitinitely  great  he  ap- 
pears in  this  his  condescension  I  "  Behold  what 
manner  of  love  !"  Thou  hast  not  yet  forgotten 
the  tenderness  of  thy  mother  :  and,  behold,  great- 
er tenderness  is  here.  "As  one  whom  his  mo- 
ther comforteth,"  so  would  the  Lord  thy  God 
thus  comfort  thee.  Did  thy  mother  bear  and 
carry  thee  all  the  days  of  thy  infancy  ?  Did  she 
love  thee  as  her  own  life,  from  thy  childhood  ? 
And  hath  not  thy  God  done  much  more? 
Whence  was  it  that  thy  first  existence  sprang, 
with  all  thy  blessings  and  mercies  unto  this  day  ? 
Who  was  it  that  laid  down  his  life  for  thee  ? 
Of  whom  wast  thou  born  again  ?  Is  not  every 
true  believer  in  Christ  a  new  creature  in  him, 
and  born  of  God  ?  Behold,  He  will  not  concede 
that  the  love  felt  by  any  mother  is  so  tender  as 
his  own.  Her  arms  may,  on  all  occasions,  be 
stretched  out  towards  thee  ;  but  His  everlasting 
arms  are  ever  underneath  thee.  Her  bosom  may 
have  been  the  resting-place  for  thy  infant  weari- 
ness or  pain  ;  it  may  at  the  present  moment  be  a 


60  THE    MORE    THAN 

resting-place  for  the  cares  of  thy  aching  heart ; 
but  the  bosom  of  the  Almighty  is  ever  open  to 
thee  as  the  resting-place  of  thy  soul.  Thy  mo- 
ther's eyes  may  have  been  wakeful  and  watchful 
for  thee  day  and  night  ;  but  the  eyes  of  the 
Lord,  though  they  behold  all  the  evils  of  thy 
nature,  (evils,  of  which  maternal  eyes,  if  they 
see  them  at  all,  can  discern  but  a  little,)  are  still 
upon  thee  for  good.  "  The  Father  himself  lov- 
eth  you,"  saith  our  Saviour,  "  because  ye  have 
loved  me,  and  have  believed  that  1  came  out 
from  God,"  John  xvi.  27.  And  again,  when 
praying  to  his  father  for  all  believers,  he  saith, 
"  Thou  hast  loved  tlieni  as  thou  hast  loved  ?ne," 
John  xvii.  23.  Does  the  mother  carry  or  lead 
her  child  ;  does  she  take  charge  of  it,  nurture  it. 
guard  its  health,  watch  every  opportunity  of 
promoting  its  comfort  and  happiness,  and  clothe 
it  with  fair  and  goodly  raiment?  Think  how 
the  "  faithful  Creator  "  will  not  be  outdone  in  all 
this  by  the  creature  whom  he  has  formed.  He 
bears  and  carries  you  ;  he  guides  and  conducts 
you.  He  takes  care  of  you,  and  gives  his  angels 
charge  concerning  you.  He  nurtures  you, 
guards  your  health  and  spiritual  welfare,  and 
watches  every  occasion  for  promoting  your  true 
comfort  and  happiness.  He  clothes  you  with 
the  garments  of  his  salvation.  And  must  not 
even  the  mother's  love  sometimes  rebuke  and 
chasten  her  child  ?  What  does  God  more,  or 
what  does  he  less  ;  even  God  our  Saviour,  who 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OF    GOD.  61 

saith,  "  As  many  as  I  love,  I  rebuke  and  chasten  ?" 
Rev.  iii.  19.  Is  the  mother  unwearied  in  brinsf- 
ing  her  child  to  repose,  however  uneasy  or  dis- 
tressed it  may  be?  Our  God  is  unwearied  in 
doing  much  more  for  every  uneasy  or  distressed 
soul ;  for  every  one  who  is  willing  to  repose  all 
care  in  his  bosom,  and  to  find  peace  there. 

But,  will  God  in  every  deed  thus  compassion- 
ate me,  with  tenderness  more  than  that  of  a  mo- 
ther, and  with  loving  kindness  infinitely  better 
adapted  to  my  wants  and  necessities?  He  will, 
my  brother,  he  will ;  for  his  word  is  true.  Let 
us,  then,  attend  once  more  to  these  his  own  gra- 
cious words,  «' Can  a  woman /or^e^  ?"  Truly 
she  can,  as  it  were,  forget  her  father  and  her 
mother,  to  cleave  unto  her  husband  ;  but  can 
she  forget  the  child  of  her  bosom  ?  Should  it 
even  grow  up  a  perverse  child,  however  un- 
grateful such  a  child  may  prove  to  her  in  after 
life,  can  she  forget  him  ?  O  ye  mothers,  are 
ye  not  ready  to  say,  "  Never,  never  ?"  But,  sup- 
posing it  possible  for  her  to  endeavour  to  forget 
an  unworthy  child  grown  up,  can  she  forget  her 
litde  child,  or  her  tender  infant  ?  still  more  can 
she  wilfully  thrust  it  away  from  her  love 
and  care  ?  How  could  this  be  possible  to  any 
one  resembling  a  mother?  But  though  we 
should  imagine  what  is  thus  impossible  to  be 
possible,  namely,  for  a  mother  to  forget  her 
helpless  child,  we  can  hardly  imagine  the  possi- 
bility of  her  not  having  compassion  for  the  son 


62  THE    MORE    THAN 

of  her  womb.  What !  can  she  with  calm  indif- 
ference behold  it  writhino:  in  at!;ony,  or  pining 
with  want  ?  If  she  had  never  wept  before,  she 
would  weep  at  such  a  sigiit ;  and  where  is  the 
mother  that  would  not  be  ready  with  all  her  heart 
to  suffer  in  her  child's  stead  ?  Therefore, 
when  the  Lord  asks,  "  Can  a  woman  forget  her 
sucking  child?"  does  not  the  heart  of  every  mo- 
ther reply,  No  ;  it  is  impossible  ?  But,  saith  the 
Lord,  though  it  tcere  possible,  yet  will  I  not  for- 
get my  children.  Though  even  a  tender  mo- 
ther should  forget  her  child  ;  yet  not  so  the 
unchangeable,  independent,  and  all-perfect  God 
our  Saviour,  whose  words  are,  '•  I  icUl  not  for- 
get thee  !'''  Here,  then,  he  discloses  a  depth  of 
love  which  no  human  mind  can  fathom.  We 
find  nothing  comparable  to  it;  we  have  no 
word  to  express  it.  Daughter  of  Zion,  canst 
thou  still  complain,  "The  Lord  hath  forsaken 
me,  and  my  Lord  hath  forgotten  me?"  Such  a 
complaint  surely  is  doing  him  wrong ;  it  is  in- 
justice ;  it  is  sin :  and  take  heed  that  it  be 
not  blasphemy.  Away  with  it  ;  fall  prostrate 
before  Him  in  the  dust,  and  adore. 

Further ;  let  us  ponder  those  precious  words 
with  which  this  Divine  appeal  concludes,  "  Be- 
hold, I  have  graven  thee  upon  the  palms  of  my 
hands  :  thy  walls  are  continually  before  me." 
What  inestimable  consolation  is  here  intended  to 
be  conveyed  to  the  church  in  general,  and  to 
every  converted  soul    in    particular !     As  the 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OF    GOD.  63 

master  builder  of  a  city  first  draws  out  his  plan, 
and  describes  the  city  in  its  whole  circumference, 
with  its  streets,  squares,  palaces,  and  houses,  so 
hath  the  Lord  Almighty  laid  down  the  whole 
plan  of  his  spiritual  city,  and  graven  it  on  the 
palms  of  his  hands.  In  his  "determinate  coun- 
sel and  foreknowledge"  it  already  stands  perfect 
and  complete  with  all  its  magnificence.  He  has 
long  commenced  the  actual  building,  and  in  due 
time  he  will  finish  it ;  for  he  is  ever  carrying  it 
on  towards  its  accomplishment:  "He will  work, 
and  who  shall  let  it  ?"  Who  shall  hinder  him 
from  bringing  forth  the  top  stone  with  shout- 
ings, crying,  Grace,  grace  unto  it?  Zech.  iv.  7. 
Though  ye  of  Samaria  and  of  theCanaanites  ex- 
claim ever  so  vehemently,  "  Down  with  it,  down 
with  it,  even  unto  the  ground,"  never  shall  ye  be 
able  to  plant  your  banner  upon  its  citadel,  nor 
even  upon  its  walls.  Zion's  walls  are  continu- 
ally before  him ;  his  eyes  are  upon  his  church 
day  and  night.  "The  gates  of  hell  shall  not 
prevail  against  it,"  Matt.  xvi.  18. 

And  as  is  Zion  in  general,  so  is  each  of  her 
sons  and  daughters  graven  upon  the  palms  of  his 
hands.  Couldst  thou  view  thy  own  image 
which  is  graven  there,  it  would  amaze  thee  to 
perceive  how  gloriously  it  is  described.  It  is 
not  such  as  thou  now  bearest  upon  thee ;  not  at 
all  like  that  body  of  sin  and  death  which  still 
cleaveth  to  thy  present  self  The  Lord  has  there 
described  thee,  such  as  thou  shalt  be  found  here- 


64  THE    MORE    THAN 

after  :  he  beholds  thee,  ah'eady  in  the  glory  of  thy 
perfected  holiness,  even  while  thou  art  going  about 
here  below  in  the  midst  of  sufferings  and  spiritu- 
al conflict :  and  such  as  thou  art  now  described 
on  the  palms  of  his  hands,  such  shalt  thcu  be 
found  hereafter  in  his  kingdom  of  glory.     His 
zeal  will  perform  this ;  his  almighty  hands  will 
accomplish  it.     And  thinkest  thou  there  can  be 
a  time  or  place  in  this  world,  wherein  the  eyes 
of  the  Lord  shall   not  be  upon   thee  ?     Learn 
here  from  his  own  word,  that  thou  art  continu- 
ally before  him.     Though  thou  retire  into  the 
most  secret  chamber  to  weep,  though  in  the  dead 
of  the  night  thou  water  thy  couch  with  thy  tears, 
though  thou  lie,  like  Elijah,  under  some  juniper- 
tree  in  the  waste  howling  wilderness,  or   have 
lost  thy  way  in  the  deepest  thicket  of  the  moun- 
tain forest,  the  more  than  motherly  heart  of  thy 
God  is  with  thee,  the  more  than  motherly  eye  of 
thy  God  is  upon  thee,  and  in  his  hand  thine  own 
is  grasped,  however  little  it  may  be  felt  by  thee. 
Wherever,  or  in  whatever  circumstances,  thou 
mayest  be,  if  thou  imagine  that  the  Lord  hath 
forsaken  thee,  and  thy  Lord  hath  forgotten  thee, 
such  an  idea  is  erroneous ;    and  herein,  God 
knoweth,  thou  disquietest  thyself  without  cause. 
Oh,  if  thine  eyes  were  only  opened,  as  were  the 
eyes  of  Elisha's  servant,  to  see  the  chariots  of  fire 
and  horses  of  fire  that  are  really  round  about 
thee,  how  wouldst  thou  be  amazed  ! 


PARENTAL    LOVE    OF    GOD.  65 

Away,  then,  with  all  needless  anxieties  and 
nnbelieving  fears  !  Whoever  is  able  to  receive 
the  comfort  of  the  more  than  maternal  love  of 
his  God,  let  him  receive  it.  The  Lord  forget- 
leth  not  one  of  his  children,  not  one  of  those  lit- 
tle ones  that  believe  in  Him:  not  one ;  not  the 
weakest  babe  in  Christ.  "  He  shall  gather  the 
lambs  with  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his  bo- 
som ;"  and  we  may  be  snre  that  the  poorest 
of  the  tlock  are  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand. 
But  am  T  really  one  of  them  ?  is  the  inquiry 
of  many  an  anxious  heart ;  and  we  reply,  In- 
deed, indeed,  you  are,  if  such  you  are  seeking  to 
be  found  :  if  you  are  seeking  it  with  humiliation 
and  sorrow  for  sin,  and  this  with  all  your  heart 
and  all  your  soul.  If  you  are  "  hungering  and 
thirsting  after  righteousness,"  if  you  are  humbly 
lono^ing  for  the  full  benefit  of  his  atonement, 
namely,  for  pardon,  justification,  holiness,  peace 
with  God,  perfect  love  to  himself  and  to  the  bre- 
thren— if  all  this  is  sought  after  with  a  broken 
spirit,  a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart;  if  inward 
purification,  through  fiiiih  in  his  blood,  be  your 
most  earnest  desire,  then  indeed  are  ye  born 
again  by  the  word  of  God  ;  beloved,  then  are  ye 
the  children  of  God.  And  although  you  may 
not  be  able,  as  yet,  fully  to  rejoice  in  your  adop- 
tion, or  to  feel  the  comfort  of  that  more  than  ma- 
ternal love  of  God  our  Saviour,  still  we  exhort 
you  to  persist  in  believing  all  that  he  here  de- 
clares concerning  it ;  and  the  time  for  you  to 


66  THE    MORE    THAN,    (fcc. 

taste  how  gracious  he  is  will  soon  arrive. 
Smoother  and  pleasanter  paths  would  his  love 
gladly  assign  us,  were  it  not  that  the  health  and 
safety  of  our  souls  require  a  different  treatment. 
You  remember,  in  the  history  of  the  women  who 
came  before  Solomon,  the  yearnings  of  the  real 
mother  over  her  own  infant;  and  so  you  may 
rest  assured,  that  whenever  any  mischief  is  near 
you,  the  Lord,  with  infinitely  more  wakeful  ten- 
derness than  that  of  the  best  of  mothers,  will  in- 
terpose for  your  deliverance. 

But,  oh  !  take  heed  not  to  presume  upon  this 
tenderness  of  everlasting  love,  if  you  are  living 
in  wilful  transgression  of  the  least  of  your  Sa- 
viour's commandments.  It  is  only  the  children 
of  Zion  that  can  be  joyful  in  their  King,  Psa. 
cxlix.  2.  Into  this  happy  state  we  are  not  in- 
troduced by  any  virtues  of  our  own,  not  by  fast- 
ings or  alms,  not  by  "  much  speaking,"  or  bene- 
volent exertions.  All  that  you  are  to  bring  and 
lay  before  Him  is  your  own  misery  under  the 
burden  of  sin,  your  poverty  and  helplessness, 
a  broken  spirit,  a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart. 
Then,  if  you  can  only  utter,  like  the  thief  upon 
the  cross,  "  Lord,  remember  me  !" — if  you  can 
only  smite  your  breast,  saying,  "  God  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner  ;" — if  you  can  sincerely  mourn  at 
the  sight  of  Him  whom  your  sins  have  pierced  ; 
your  very  sighs  will  rend  the  heavens,  will 
"  enter  into  the  ears  of  the  Lord  of  sabaoth,"  and 
will  verily  reach  his  heart.  May  God  renew 
this  right  spirit  within  us  all !     Amen. 


THE  ENCAxMPMENT  OF  JUDAH. 


Numbers  ii.  3. 

Judah  shall  encamp  eastward  toward  the  sun-rising,  with 
his  banner  and  host;  their  captain,  Nahshon,  son  of  Amnfii- 
nadab.* 

This  chapter  describes  the  manner  of  Israel's 
encampment,  as  Divinely  appointed  to  be  ob- 
served on  their  journey  through  the  wilderness 
to  the  promised  land.  The  whole  of  this  ap- 
pointment was  very  significant.  For,  as  the  na- 
tion of  Israel  was  a  type  of  the  Israel  of  God,  so 
the  ordinances  given  to  that  people  may  be 
viewed  as  a  shadow  of  higher  and  better  things. 

Let  us  notice,  with  a  view  of  our  spiritual  im- 
provement, 

I.  The  tribe  of  judah. 
II.  Their  camp. 

III.  The  direction  in  which  it  is  situated. 

IV.  Their  banner. 
V.  Their  host. 

VI.  Their  captain. 

*  Lutheran  version. 


68  THE    ENCAMPMEXT    OF    JUDAFT. 

I.  The  tribe  of  Judah.  It  is  well  known  that 
the  tribe  of  Judah  was  one  type  of  God's  people 
under  the  New  Testament  dispensation.  Very 
frequently  in  Scripture  is  the  true  church  spoken 
of  under  the  name  of  Judah  Thus  David, 
beholding  in  spirit  the  glorious  coming  of  Messi- 
ah's kingdom,  sings,  "  Let  mount  Zion  rejoice,  let 
the  daughters  of  Judah  be  glad,"  Psa.  xlviii.  11. 
Thus  also  the  prophet  Joel  proclaims  that  "Judah 
shall  dwell"  (or  abide)  '^  for  ever,"  Joel  iii.  20. 
The  prophet  Zechariah  likewise  saith,  "The 
Lord  shall  inherit  Judah  his  portion  in  the  holy 
land,"  Zech.  ii.  12.  And  we  cannot  easily 
mistake  what  was  meant  in  the  blessing  of  the 
patriarch  Jacob  by  the  words,  ''  Judah,  thou  art 
he  whom  thy  brethren  shall  praise,"  Gen.  xlix.  8. 
The  tribe  of  Judah  was  distinguished  as  the  royal 
tribe  ;  and  such  is  the  true  church  of  the  living 
God  :  a  chosen  generation,  all  of  whom  are  made 
kings  and  priests  unto  Him,  1  Pet.  ii.  9  ;  Rev.  i.  6. 
For  "  the  saints  shall  judge  the  world,"  1  Cor.vi.  2. 
"  The  kingdom  and  dominion,  and  the  greatness 
of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole  heaven,  shall  be 
given  to  the  people  of  the  saints  of  the  Most 
High,"  Dan.  vii.  27.  Judah  was  the  tribe  out  of 
which  sprang  "  The  Second  Man,"  who  is  "  the 
Lord  from  heaven."  And  lo,  the  church  of  God 
is  the  "  woman  clothed  with  the  sun,"  who  "  tra- 
vailed in  birth,  and  brouofht  forth  the  man-child," 
namely  Christ,  who  was  to  "  rule  all  the  heathen 
with  a  rod  of  iron."     The   church,  internally 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH.  69 

considered,  thus  travaileth  in  birth,  and  bringeth 
forth  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  over- 
shadowing her ;  and,  externally  considered,  she 
doth  the  same,  by  the  testimony  and  preaching 
of  the  gospel.  Judahwasthe  tribe  which  occu- 
pied the  hill  of  Zion  and  Jerusalem,  with  Moriah 
the  place  of  the  sanctuary.  So  the  church  is  that 
royal  priesthood  which  occupies  the  city  of  God, 
and  goes  in  and  out  with  freedom.  The  church 
is  itself  Jehovah's  city  and  sanctuary.  It  has 
charge  of  the  holy  fire  of  the  altar.  The  glory 
of  the  Lord  fiUeth  the  whole  house.  The  spirit- 
ual church  is  the  real  tribe  of  Judah. 

The  name  of  Judah  signifies  praise.  "  Now 
will  I  praise  the  Lord,"  said  his  mother  liCah  at 
his  birth  ;  and  this  was  the  occasion  of  his  name, 
Gen.  xxix.  35.  Thus  is  the  spiritual  Judah 
established  and  made  a  praise  in  the  earth,  Isa, 
Ixii.  7,  to  the  glory  of  God,  of  whom  it  is  born 
and  made.  This  whole  family  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  named  and  appointed  to  be  a  continual 
praise  to  the  glory  of  the  omnipotent  grace  of 
Jehovah.  For  what  was  the  spiritual  Jerusalem 
once,  and  what  the  whole  spiritual  Judah  ? 
Kings  and  priests  as  they  all  are, — is  not  each 
''  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire?"  Zech.  iii.  2. 
Who  are  these  ministers  of  the  sanctuary  1  Were 
they  not  once  without  God  in  the  world  ?  but 
they  are  brought  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Him  "  who 
justifieth  the  ungodly ;"  and  are  now  made  holy, 
and  consecrated  to  his  holy  service.  Who  are 
6^ 


70  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH. 

those  joyful  harpers  singing  to  their  harps,  "  a 
new  song,"  before  the  throne  ?  Rev.  xiv.  2,  3. 
Were  they  not  very  stones  when  the  God  of 
Jacob  first  taught  them  to  utter  his  praise  ? 
Who  are  those  green  olive-trees  in  the  garden  of 
God  ?  What  were  once  those  fruitful  "  trees  of 
righteousness,"  that  are  now  so  evidently  ''  the 
planting  of  the  Lord,  that  He  may  be  glorified  7" 
Were  they  not  dry  and  dead  rods  of  the  stem  of 
Adam,  fit  only  for  burning,  and  such  as  nothing 
but  the  new-creating  power  of  the  Almighty^ 
could  ever  have  recovered  to  verdure  and 
bloom?  Beholdthese  fellow-servants  and  compan- 
ions of  angels,  these  joint  heirs  of  the  kingdom, 
these  partakers  of  the  glory  that  shall  be  reveal- 
ed ;  whence  were  they  formed  to  this  high  char- 
acter? The"  hole  of  the  pit  from  whence  they 
were  digged,"  was  as  the  chamber  of  death,  and 
nigh  to  the  depths  of  hell.  Were  they  not 
'•brought  up  out  of  an  horrible  pit,  out  of  the  miry 
clay  ?"  Psa.  xl.  2.  Come  they  not  from  the  field 
of  the  dry  bones,  and  from  the  camp  of  the 
slain  ?  Are  they  not  delivered  from  the  teeth  of 
corruption,  and  rescued  from  the  paw  of  the 
devouring  lion  ?  Have  they  not  been  ransomed, 
from  the  power  of  spiritual  death,  released  from 
the  chains  of  darkness,  and  of  the  Divine  displea- 
sure, and  lifted  down  from  the  pile  of  Tophet 
where  they  were  ready  to  perish  in  the  fire  of 
Moloch  ?  Oh  !  the  miracles  of  mercy  which 
are  wrought  upon  this  people  1     Well  may  they 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OP    JUDAH.  71 

be  called  Jiidah,   for   every  thing   about  them 
renders  "  praise"  to   the   Lord.     Behold   them  a 
living  monument   of  the  power  and   grace  of 
Christ ;  a  monument  more  to   be   admired   than 
the  fabric   of  a   world,   because  it  shall   more 
abundantly  for   ever   declare   to   all    intelligent 
creatures  the   glory   and  praise   of  God.     The 
Lord  is  there,  and   his   delight   is   there.     This 
people  are  his  "  peculiar   treasure  ;"  they  are  "  a 
crown  of  glory  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord,   and    a 
royal  diadem  in   the   hand   of  their    God,"  Isa. 
Ixii.  3.     With  this  immense  family  of  ransomed 
sinners  our  great  High  Priest  is  surrounded,  and 
invested  as  with  a  festal  robe,  down  to  the  lowest 
filament  of  which  descends  the  unction   of  the 
Holy  One,  like   the   precious   anointing  poured 
on  the  head  of  Aaron.     This  people  are  also  the 
"  jewels"  which  he  "  maketh  up  "  for  the  day  of 
his  triumph,  and  as  a  golden  chain  worn   by  the 
King  of  kings.     Their    names   shine   with  hea- 
venly   lustre  in    His  priestly   "  breast-plate  of 
judgment ;"  their  very  tears  are  set  as  diamonds 
upon  his  purple   vesture ;  all   their  sacrifices  are 
faithfully  treasured  by   him   in    his  sanctuary  ; 
and  how  they  are  valued  by   him,    let   his   own 
sufferings,  for  their  sakes,   declare.     And   when 
He  shall  come  again  in  his  glory,  that  all  flesh 
may  see  it  together,  he  will   be   attended  by  the 
holy  myriads  of  this  people  :  they  shall  sit  down 
with  him  on  his   throne,   to  judge  the  world. 


72  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH. 

Yerily,  "  Judah,  thou  art  he  whom  thy  brethren," 
the  angels,  <'  shall  praise." 

You  now  know  the  tribe  whereof  we  speak- 
But  our  text  does  not  refer  to  that  small  people 
that  dw-elt  peaceably  among  the  hills  of  Zion, 
and  settled  along  the  western  bank  of  Jordan, 
every  man  under  his  own  vine  and  fig-tree ;  but 
to  Judah  abroad  upon  the  march,  encamped  in 
the  wilderness  amidst  the  sound  of  trumpets  and 
the  din  of  arms,  prepared  for  war  and  conflict. 
The  tribe  in  this  condition  better  typifies  the 
state  of  the  church  militant  here  on  earth;  for 
the  life  of  the  spiritual  Judah  is  a  life  of  warfare 
and  conflict.  Its  enemies  ye  know.  They  are 
more,  and  greater,  than  Midian  and  Amalek; 
they  are  enemies  within  and  without ;  they  are 
active  and  are  mighty.  There  is  the  prince  of 
the  power  of  the  air,  with  the  rulers  of  the  dark- 
ness of  this  world.  There  are  household  foes  ; 
lusts  in  the  members,  and  enemies  in  the  heart. 
There  are  adversaries  in  the  busy  crowd,  and  ad- 
versaries in  the  secret  chamber.  There  are  liers 
in  wait  and  ambuscades.  There  are  covert 
mines  laid  under  the  way,  and  even  under  the 
encampments.  Here,  then,  is  spiritual  warfare 
absolutely  necessary  for  self-preservation. 

The  tribe  of  Judah  in  the  wilderness  was  mar- 
shalled into  distinct  companies,  each  of  which 
had  its  own  peculiar  armament ;  so  is  it  with  the 
spiritual  Judah.  The  followers  of  our  David  are 
a  mixed  multitude  ;  they  are  variously  formed 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH.  73 

and  endued  ;  they  are  not  all  of  the  same  stamp, 
complexion,  or  dialect ;  neither  do  they  all  use 
the  same  description  of  weapons.  ^  One  sort  over- 
comes the  enemy  with  tears ;  even  as  little  chil- 
dren when  danger  is  near,  instantly  run  weeping 
to  their  mother.  They  are  a  timid  company  ; 
nevertheless  they  go  on  conquering  and  to  con- 
quer. Another  sort  skirmishes  like  a  maiden- 
warrior  ;  being  armed  with  holy  shame  and  mo- 
dest diffidence.  No  sooner  does  temptation  ap- 
pear, than  their  heart  recoils  from  it  with  fear 
and  trembling ;  "How  can  I  do  this  great  wick- 
edness, and  sin  against  God  ?"  Genesis  xxxix. 
9.  A  third  company  wields  skilfully  the  sword 
of  the  word.  Every  assault  of  the  tempter  is  re- 
pulsed with,  ''  It  is  written  :"  or,  "  Get  thee  be- 
[lind  me,  Satan !"  for  thou  meanest  not  the 
things  which  is  godly,  but  that  which  is  "earth- 
ly, sensual,  deviUsh,"  James  iii.  15.  A  fourth 
company  holds  out  with  "  strong  crying,"  Heb. 
V.  7,  and  secret  breathings  to  God ;  and  prevails, 
like  Moses,  with  hands  extended  towards  heaven, 
and.  supported  by  Aaron;  or  even  as  chickens 
tiud  refuge  and  defence  under  the  wings  of  the 
hen  :  so  are  they  safe.  A  fifth  company  makes 
a  successful  struggle  by  a  special  use  of  the  cross  ; 
a  single  glance  at  the  sufferings  of  the  Son  of 
God  dissipates  every  storm  that  v/ould  rage  in 
their  members,  and  the  bolts  of  the  adversary  are 
shot  in  vain,  A  sixth  company  smites  down 
the  foe  with  one  effort  of  simple  faith.     Embol- 


74  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH. 

dened  by  reliance  upon  God's  thousand  promises, 
which  are  written  as  with  "  an  iron  pen  and  lead 
in  the  rock  for  ever,"  they  are  persuaded  that  the 
enemy  shall  have  no  advantage  against  them. 
Hence  they  laugh  the  enemy  to  scorn,  with  an 
indio-nation  that  obliges  him  to  withdraw. 

Moreover,  as  the  weapons  which  Judah's  se- 
veral companies  oppose  to  the  devil  and  the  flesh 
are  various,  so  are  those  with  which  they  over- 
come the  world  of  despisers  and  blasphemers. 
One  class  always  uses  the  piercing  shafts  of  love 
and  meekness, blessing  those  who  curse,  and  heap- 
ing coals  of  fire  upon  their  head.  Another  class 
is  victorious  by  their  well-doing  and  shining  ex- 
ample, that  the  mouth  of  the  calumniator  is  con- 
demned to  silence.  A  third  company  will  defeat 
the  counsel  of  an  Ahithophel  by  their  abashing 
and  confounding  simplicity.  A  fourth  are  dis- 
tinguished as  the  swordsmen  of  the  Spirit.  They 
know  how  to  lay  truth's  enemies  in  the  dust,  by 
their  strong  reasons,  powerful  thoughts,  and  tri- 
umphant methods  of  proof.  Thus,  as  in  Judah's 
tribe  after  the  flesh,  so  also  in  the  spiritual  Ju- 
dah,  are  there  a  mixture  of  persons,  and  a  variety 
of  weapons.  Yet  the  living  sword,  and  harness, 
and  shield  of  them  all,  is  but  one,  namely.  He 
who  is  at  their  head,  the  Captain  of  God's  host ; 
Christ,  the  Lord. 

H.  Let  us  next  contemplate  tliis  people  in  their 
camp.     "  Jiidah  shall  encamj^^''  saith  the  Lord. 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH.  75 

And  indeed  the  spiritual  Judah  is  an  encamped 
people.  They  were  not  always  so.  Once  they 
remained  in  their  own  houses,  elated  in  self-es- 
teem, living  unto  themselves,  and  dreaming  of 
their  own  powers  and  projects.  But  the  hand  of 
grace  has  brought  them  low,  and  has  bowed 
down  the  proud  even  to  the  ground.  They  now 
lie  in  the  dust,  conscious  of  their  own  weakness, 
poverty,  and  nakedness ;  and  their  watch-word 
is,  "In  the  Lord  have  I  righteousness  and 
strength,"  Isa.  xlv.  24.  They  are  prepared  for 
march,  for  conflict,  and  for  victory,  in  the  order 
and  manner  which  God  shall  appoint,  and  by 
His  direction  they  lay  down  in  their  camp  with 
selfabasement  and  poverty  of  spirit.  As  sin- 
ners, they  prostrate  their  souls  in  the  dust  at  the 
feet  of  Jesus.  Therefore,  Get  you  down  all  of 
you  into  the  depths  of  the  camp,  ye  that  are  fain 
to  think  of  your  worthiness,  and  to  flatter  your- 
selves with  crowns  of  your  own  devising.  It  is 
not  so  seen  in  Judah.  Encamp  at  once  ;  and  let 
your  only  glorying  and  consolation  be  in  that 
crown  which  your  King  wore  for  you  before  Pi- 
late upon  Gabbatha ;  let  it  be  in  His  purple  and 
bloody  robe,  and  not  in  one  of  your  own.  Come 
down,  ye  who  are  actuated  by  that  spirit  which 
willeth  and  runneth  after  its  own  imaginary  des- 
erts and  praises.  That  is  not  Judah's  manner. 
Judah  remains  quiet  in  the  camp,  and  lives  upon 
the  camp  provisions,  furnished  to  his  hand  from 
the  merits  and  virtues  of  Another,  who  is  great- 


76  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH. 

er  than  he.  Down  from  your  heights,  ye  who 
are  endeavouring,  by  self-chosen  amendment,  to 
make  good  your  faults  and  failings  !  This  is  an 
error,  and  not  Judah's  method.  Judah,  like  his 
father  Jacob,  beholds  in  this  wilderness  an  ascent 
of  steps  dropped  from  heaven,  at  the  summit  of 
which  is  the  throne  of  grace  ;  and,  prostrating 
himself  to  the  lowest  of  these,  which  touches  the 
earth,  he  hears  the  Divine  oracle  declaring  all  his 
faults  and  failings  made  good  by  his  great  High 
Priest,  and  covered  by  His  atonement.  Such  is 
the  position  of  Judah. 

Judah  shall  encamp,  saith  the  Lord.  His  peo- 
ple shall  "  dwell  in  quiet  resting-places,'^  and  en- 
joy what  He  himself  hath  conquered  for  Judah. 
He  hath  prepared  for  him  "  a  table  in  the  wil- 
derness," and  furnished  it  with  all  manner  of 
blessed  refreshments.  His  soul  shall  lie  down  in 
these  resting-places,  which  the  blood  of  his  Sure- 
ty hath  purchased  for  him.  Oh,  blessed  place  of 
repose  !  Peace  is  there  ;  quietness  and  assurance 
are  there  ;  for  Thou,  Lord,  makest  Judah  to 
dwell  in  safety.  Here  then  is  provided  a  precious 
resting-place  for  our  souls.  Cast  thyself  into  the 
very  midst  of  it,  as  into  an  asylum  of  God.  Who- 
ever of  us  has  lain  with  Christ  in  the  dust  of 
Gethsemane,  as  "  a  worm,  and  no  man,"  Psa. 
xxii.  6,  is  invited  also  to  enjoy  with  him.  the 
blessedness  of  the  camp  of  Judah. 

"Judah  shall  encamp."  But  in  what  form  and 
order  ?     Upon  this   we  have  only  to  say,  with 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF   JUDAH.  77 

respect  to  the  spiritual  Judah,  that  the  mystical 
cross  of  their  great  High  Priest  embodies  itself 
in  all  their  stations  and  movements,  gives  shape 
to  all  their  hopes  and  expectations,  directs  and 
regulates  their  prayers,  praises,  and  exertions. 
Whatever  they  attempt  or  whatever  they  enjoy, 
is  conformed  to  the  cross. 

But  how  slight  appears  Judah's  camp,  com- 
pared with  the  strong  fortifications  of  this  world  ! 
It  consists  only  of  tents  and  tabernacles,  easily 
set  up,  and  as  easily  taken  down.  Spiritual 
children  of  Judah  are  but  sojourners  here.  They 
are  strangers  and  pilgrims  upon  earth.  Every  one 
among  them,  and  every  thing  belonging  to  them, 
must  be  in  readiness  for  the  march.  Amidst  all 
the  tenderest  relative  ties,  and  circumstances  of 
time  and  sense,  they  are  to  dwell  only  as  in 
booths,  made  of  branches  of  palm  trees,  and  wil- 
lows of  the  brook,  having  their  affections  sitting 
loose  to  the  things  which  are  seen  and  temporal. 
''It  remaineth,  that  both  they  that  have  wives 
be  as  though  they  had  none  ;  and  they  that  weep, 
as  though  they  wept  not ;  and  they  that  rejoice,  as 
though  they  rejoiced  not ;  and  they  that  buy,  as 
though  they  possessed  not ;"  ''knowing"  that  as  all 
other  "time,"  so  the  suffering  time  of  tribulation, 
"is  short,"  1  Cor.  vii.  29, 30 ;  is  but  as  a  sojourning 
in  a  tent,  for  a  night.  Though  "  weeping  may 
endure  for  a  night,"  they  know  that  "joy  cometh 
in  the  morning,"  Psa.  xxx.  5.  For  here  they 
have  no  continuing  city,  but  they  seek  one  to 


78  THE   ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH. 

come,  Heb.  vii.  14.  Oh,  the  happy  and  blessed 
art  of  spending  the  night  every  where  and  always 
as  in  the  tents  of  sojourners,  pilgrims  to  God  ! 
This  is  learnt  only  in  the  school  of  grace.  It  is 
inexpressible  how  much  the  heart  of  fallen  man  is 
set  upon  things  temporal  and  perishable;  and  there 
is  but  one  Physician  that  can  disengage  us  from 
our  morbid  attachments.  O  Judah,  blessed  art 
thou  in  thy  pilgrim  encampment,  in  thy  movea- 
ble tabernacles. 

III.  The  direction  in  which  the  camp  is  situa- 
ted, is  the  next  object  for  contemplation. 

Judah  shall  encamp  toward  the  sun-rising. 
Such  too  is  the  cheerful  situation  of  the  beloved 
people ;  they  have  the  evening  behind  them,  and 
the  morning  in  their  eye.  This  is  characteris- 
tic of  all  the  spiritual  Judah,  from  the  least  to  the 
greatest.  The  child  and  the  man  of  grey  hairs 
are  looking  towards  the  rising  day,  towards  the 
Day-star  from  on  high.  Where  the  Rose  of  Sha- 
ron bloomed,  and  the  Root  of  David  sprung  up 
out  of  a  dry  ground;  where  the  bright  and 
morninof  Star  arose  to  illuminate  the  nis^ht  of 
human  misery^  thither  are  the  eyes  of  all  of  them 
directed  ;  thither  do  their  thoughts  and  affections 
go  forth  together.  At  one  time  do  the  hills  of 
Bethlehem  rise  before  them  in  the  distance,  and 
they  hear,  with  an  enraptured  spirit,  the  songs 
of  praise  of  the  heavenly  host.  At  another  time 
they  behold  in  spirit  the  lake  of  Galilee,  and  re- 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OP    JUDAH.  79 

joice  in  the  Man  whom  the  winds  and  the  waves 
obey.  Now  they  would  build  with  Peter,  a 
tabernacle  on  the  mount  of  transfiguration. — 
Then  they  behold  Jesus  as  the  reputed  son  of 
the  carpenter,  and  as  having  become  their  brother 
in  the  form  of  a  servant ;  and  they  rejoice  with 
joy  unspeakable  that  he  is  so  nearly  related  to 
them  ;  they  recollect  with  tears  of  gladness,  that 
"He  is  not  ashamed  to  call  them  brethren," 
Heb.  ii.  11.  They  then  remember  the  darkness 
of  Gethsemane,  the  agony  and  bloody  sweat,  the 
wormwood  and  the  gall ;  which  things  are  now 
converted  to  the  healing  of  their  souls,  and  they 
rejoice  to  have  found  such  balm  in  Gilead,  and 
such  a  Physician  there.  Often  in  their  spiritual 
vision  eastward,  do  they  cross  the  hill  of  Calvary. 
Their  soul  pauses  over  the  spot  where  hung  the 
penitent  malefactor,  and  seems  to  suffer  there  in 
his  stead,  exclaiming,  "  Lord,  remember  me  when 
thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom,"  and  applies  to 
itself  the  malefactor's  comfort,  "  Yerily  I  say  unto 
thee,  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise," 
Luke  xxiii.  42,  43.  It  then  goes  to  the  sepulchre, 
to  behold  there  the  bands  of  death  burst  asunder, 
and  the  seal  broken  up  for  the  triumphant  dis- 
closure of  immortality,  by  Him  who  is  called 
"  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah."  After  this,  the 
eye  of  their  faith  is  attracted  by  a  glistening  upon 
the  heights  of  Olivet.  Thither  they  soar  in  spi- 
rit, and  behold  the  heavens  opened,  and  the  Son 
of  God  ascending  through  clouds  of  witnessing 


80  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OP   JUDAH. 

angels.  And  they  strike  the  harp  of  David,  and 
join  the  heavenly  harmony,  saying,  "  God  is  gone 
up  with  a  shout,  the  Lord  with  the  sound  of  the 
trumpet.  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates  ;  and 
be  ye  lift  up,  ye  everlasting  doors  ;  and  the  King 
of  glory  shall  come  in,"  Psa.  xlvii.  5 ;  xxiv.  7. 
Thus  does  the  soul  of  Judah  breathe  the  air  of 
paradise,  and  stretches  forth  her  wings  of  devo- 
tion, to  follow  in  spirit  the  exalted  King  of  hea- 
ven and  earth,  up  to  those  bridal  mansions  of 
bliss  which  he  is  gone  to  prepare.  See,  my  breth- 
ren, how  Judah  turns  to  the  rising  sun,  and  his 
position  is  towards  the  morning  of  an  eternal  day. 
Yes,  "  toward  the  sun-rising,"  as  awaiting  for 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness  to  appear.  Soon  will 
He  come  forth  as  a  bridegroom  out  of  his  cham- 
ber, and  arise  upon  those  that  fear  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  "  with  healing  in  his  wings."  The  cock- 
crowing  of  the  early  dav/n  is  already  perceptible 
among  Christians,  Jews,  and  heathens.  A  blush 
already  tinges  the  eastern  sky,  and  the  grey  mists 
that  await  the  coming  day  are  already  breaking 
and  dispersing.  The  noxious  fumes  of  rebellion, 
which  for  ages  have  risen  up  from  the  camp  of 
the  enemy,  are  beginning  to  be  powerfully  dis- 
turbed. Soon  will  He  shine  forth,  and  revisit 
us,  who  is  called  "the  Day-spring  from  on  high ;" 
and  the  bride  is  greeting  his  approach,  and  say- 
ing, "  Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly  !" 
"Behold,  He  shall  come,  saith  the  Lord  of 
hosts  :"  behold,  he  shall  come  "  in  the  clouds  of 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OP    JUDAH.  81 

heaven,  with  power  and  great  glory,"  Matt.  xxiv. 
30.  The  rag-e  of  Judah's  enemies  shall  then 
come  to  an  end ;  and  "the  mountain  of  the  Lord's 
house  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the 
mountains,  and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills  ; 
and  all  nations  shall  flow  unto  it,"  Isa.  ii.  1. 
Thus  are  we  encamped  toward  the  sun-rising, 
and  keep  our  eyes  watching  for  the  morning; 
and  thouo:h  the  morninof-watch  wherein  we  live 
be  still  accounted  midnight  by  the  multitude, 
we  breathe  morning  air  in  the  spirit  of  hope  and 
faith. 

Judah  is  encamped  toward  the  sun-rising. 
Thither  does  he  direct  his  eyes,  filled  with  tears 
of  hope  and  joy ;  and  in  that  direction  is  his 
longing  soul  turned  continually.  Look  through- 
out the  whole  city  of  God,  and  you  will  see  that 
every  face  in  it  is  toward  the  sun-rising.  One 
is  well  nigh  weary  of  sojourning  in  this  cold 
barren  land  of  Meshech  ;  a  sickening  desire  for 
home  burns  within  him  ;  he  is  looking  after  the 
morning  of  the  everlasting  sabbath,  that  he  may 
be  able  yet  to  hold  out  unto  the  end  of  his  pil- 
grimage. Another  is  satiated  with  conflict  in  the 
land  wherein  he  is  a  stranger,  in  this  land  of 
storms ;  and  he  longs  for  "  a  peaceable  habita- 
tion, in  sure  dwellings  and  quiet  resting  places." 
Hence  he  is  constantly  inquiring,  "  Watchman, 
what  of  the  night?  Watchman,  what  of  the 
night?"  Another,  encompassed  with  gloomy 
doubts  and  fears,  is  continually  at  his  tent  door 

r* 


82  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH. 

to  see  whether  the  dawn  is  not  ready  to  appear, 
and  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  rising  turrets  of 
that  celestial  city,  which  is  coming  from  God 
out  of  heaven.  Another,  as  seeing  before  him 
mountains  of  difficulty  and  perplexity,  would 
not  have  courage  to  advance  a  step  further,  did 
not  his  eye  of  hope  discern  beyond  them  all,  a 
gleam  of  that  morning  of  which  the  poet  sings, 

"  Pilgrim,  thine  are  dreamy  fears, 
Gone  as  soon  as  morn  appears." 

And  another,  though-  weeping  the  tears  of  nature 
at  the  grave  of  one  beloved,  is  able  nevertheless 
to  rejoice  in  spirit,  and  is  ready,  even  at  that 
grave,  to  shout  for  joy,  because  his  eye  is  steadi- 
ly fixed  upon  the  rising  of  the  day,  wherein  all 
the  saints  shall  be  re-united,  to  be  for  ever  toge- 
ther with  the  Lord.  Go  into  any  chamber  of 
tears  where  a  single  child  of  God  can  be  found  ; 
witness  at  any  bed-side  the  pain  and  sufferings  of 
his  saints,  Psa  cxvi.  15  ;  behold  one,  a  brother  of 
Job,  and  another,  a  sister  of  Lazarus  ;  and  you 
may  well  wonder  how  they  endure  all  with  the 
same  patience  and  sweet  serenity.  But  know 
that  a  rising  beam  finds  its  way  to  their  spiritual 
vision,  a  ray  from  the  festal  morn  of  the  everlast- 
ing sabbath,  by  which  the  eye  of  their  faith  dis- 
cerns "  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away," 
held  out  to  them  by  the  hand  of  Jesus  ;  and  ten 
thousand  times  ten  thousand  thus  crowned  al- 
ready, with  Jesus  in  the  midst  of  them,  as  the 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF   JUDAH.  83 

Author  of  their  eternal  life.  This  is  their  com- 
fort and  their  joy.  They  are  looking  for  the 
morning,  and  seem  already  as  if  they  heard  the 
distant  cock-crowing  ;  as  if  the  morning  breeze 
of  heaven  fanned  their  pallid  faces,  and  its  twi- 
light were  gleaming  in  their  dying  eyes.  Hal- 
lelujah !  the  night  is  far  spent,  and  the  day  is  at 
hand. 

And  as  all  the  companies  of  Judah  now  liv- 
ing, are  encamped  "  toward  the  sun-rising,"  so 
may  it  likewise  be  said  of  the  departed  saints  of 
the  Israel  of  God.  What  was  mortal  belonging 
to  them  is  sown  in  hope.  Their  honoured  dust, 
which  once  formed  a  part  of  the  habitation  of  God, 
and  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  lies  waiting  for  that 
morning  of  the  resurrection  which  will  certainly 
dawn  upon  it.  The  wind  of  the  Lord  will 
breathe  over  it,  and  the  sound  of  his  trumpet  will 
awaken  it  from  its  long  slumber.  Then  shall 
the  bodies  of  the  saints  come  forth  from  their 
graves  in  glory  unspeakable,  and  their  souls  shall 
return  to  them  again.  Yea,  "  thy  dead  men,"  O 
Judah,  "  shall  live,"  saith  the  Lord  :  and  with  my 
own  once  dead  body  shall  they  arise.  "  Awake 
and  sing,  ye  that  dwell  in  dust :  for  thy  dew  is 
as  the  dew  of  herbs,  and  the  earth  shall  cast  out 
the  dead,"  Isa.  xxvi.  19.  Blessed  be  thou,  O  tribe 
of  Judah,  that  art  encamped  toward  the  sun-ris- 
ing :  tarry  but  a  little  while,  and  thy  full  morn- 
ing will  have  arrived.  Sing  as  thou  wilt  thy 
home  sick  lamentation, 


84  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OP    JUDAH. 

"  I'm  a  child,  and  often  roam, 
When  the  scene  is  dark  and  drear  : 
Take  me  out  of  tempests  here, 
To  my  Father's  peaceful  home." 

Most  unexpectedly  shall  thy  mourning  be  turn- 
ed into  joy.  Go  on  then  to  ejaculate,  while  so- 
journino^  in  this  tabernacle, 

"  Twilight  gleams  will  not  remove 
Sighs  for  home.     O  Prince  of  day, 
Grant  me  soon  to  soar  away 
To  thy  realms  of  light  and  love." 

Thy  mansion  is  already  prepared  in  those  realms, 
O  man  of  God.  Tarry  only  a  little  longer  on 
the  hills  of  hope.  Lo,  while  thou  art  yet  re- 
peating that  "  song  in  the  night," 

"  Longings  for  my  home  above 
Often  agitate  my  mind  ; 
Rest  below  I  cannot  find  ; 
'Tis  with  Thee,  the  God  of  love," 

behold,  thy  morning  dawn  has  stolen  upon  thee  ; 
the  day-star  has  arisen  in  thy  heart ;  a  few  mo- 
ments more,  and  the  sun  is  up,  which  dispels 
thy  night  for  ever. 

IV.  Judah's  encampment  toward  the  sun- 
rising  was  to  be  with  his  banner. 

The  tribe  had  a  special  banner,  whereon,  tra- 
dition says,  a  lion  was  represented  upon  a  red 
flag,  suspended  probably,  after  the  common  an- 
cient manner,  upon  a  cross.     Be  this  as  it  may. 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH.  85 

we  know  that  Christ  crucified  is  the  banner  of 
God's  Israel  and  Judah,  the  ensign  lifted  up 
unto  the  nations.  Banners  gave  the  signal  for 
the  people  to  march  ;  they  were  planted  upon  hills 
and  eminences,  that  they  might  be  seen  at  a  dis- 
tance, and  straightway  the  hosts  marched  towards 
and  gathered  round  them.  So  it  is  with  our 
banner  of  the  cross.  It  is  a  mao:net  of  irresistible 
attraction.  Wherever  it  is  lifted  up,  there  is  a 
movement,  an  excitement,  a  stir,  and  the  elect  of 
God  gather  around  it  with  exultation  or  with 
weeping.  There  you  may  see  persons,  whom 
the  humiliation  of  the  manger  could  not  affect, 
nor  the  throne  of  majesty  overawe,  whom  the 
prospect  of  everlasting  welfare  could  not  allure, 
nor  that  of  everlasting  woe  alarm.  But  a  glimpse 
of  the  cross  has  riveted  their  attention  ;  the  crown 
of  thorns  has  touched  their  very  soul ;  the  reedy 
sceptre  has  smitten  them  to  the  ground,  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  Son  of  God  have  melted  their 
rocky  hearts.  Where  is  it  that  a  Rahab  and  a 
Magdalene  are  changed  into  the  daughters  of 
the  Lord  Almighty  ?  Where  is  a  raging  Saul 
converted  into  a  minister  of  the  Most  High? 
And  where  is  captivity  led  captive  by  the  Lord  ? 
Is  it  not  where  the  word  of  the  cross  is  pro- 
claimed, and  the  banner  of  the  cross  is  unfurled? 
The  banner  of  the  cross  draws  and  gathers  the 
people  unto  the  Lord.  Lo,  this  is  the  centre 
around  which  many  millions  of  spirits  in  heaven 


86  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH. 

and  on  earth  stand  marshalled  day  and  night ; 
for  under  this  banner  is  life  eternal. 

When  a  host  has  lost  its  banner,  it  is  not  only  a 
great  loss,  but  a  great  disgrace,  and  almost  worse 
than  a  defeat.  Our  enemies  know  this ;  and 
what  do  they  more  eagerly  desire  than  to  wrest, 
if  possible,  this  banner  from  our  hands?  Christ 
as  a  holy  person,  Christ  as  a  Divine  person,  Christ 
as  a  King,  Christ  as  exalted  to  heaven  and  glori- 
fied, they  are  willing  to  allow  us,  provided  they 
can  only  deprive  us  of  Christ  crucified.  All  the 
shafts  of  their  scorn  and  ridicule  are  directed 
against  our  holding  him  in  this  character.  To 
turn  it  into  foolishness  and  an  old  wives'  fable,  is 
the  object  of  all  their  learning  and  teaching. 
They  would  be  glad  to  despoil  us  of  our  banner, 
the  banner  of  our  tribe  to  which  we  are  sworn. 
Rally  therefore  around  it ;  and  keep  in  close  or- 
der about  it.  Die,  rather  than  permit  it  to  be 
taken  from  you. 

The  banner  leads  in  the  van  of  the  host.  So 
does  the  cross:  and  ^^ Forward'^  is  the  watchword 
inspired  by  it  among  its  foltowers.  Does  the 
cross  lead  the  way  through  tempest  and  conflict? 
It  inspires  us  with  courage,  it  gives  us  patience, 
it  yields  us  triumph.  Does  it  conduct  through 
suffering  and  darkness  ?  It  calms  our  fears,  and 
gives  us  light.  Does  it  direct  our  way  through 
temptations  and  trials  ?  It  makes  the  world  dis- 
gustful, and  its  vain  delights  and  lusts  insipid  ;  it 
tames  and  subdues  the  flesh.    Would  the  remem- 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH.  87 

brance  of  our  past  sins,  which  we  have  now  repent- 
ed of  and  forsaken,  still  depress  or  affright  us  7 
Would  our  own  hearts  disquiet  us,  and  make  us 
despond?  Yet,  with  the  cross  of  Christ  for  our 
guide,  that  is,  with  renewing,  purifying  faith  in 
Christ  crucified  for  us,  who  is  he  that  shall  con- 
demn us  ?  For  it  is  God  that  justifieth.  Does 
our  banner  go  forward  to  the  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death  ?  Still  it  dispels  the  darkness  that  would 
otherwise  reign  there :  the  river  of  death  dries  up 
before  it,  and  heaven  opens  to  our  view.  Lastly, 
does  it  lead  on  to  the  tribunal  of  the  judgment 
day?  There  will  it  have  opened  our  way  into  the 
presence  of  the  great  King  himself,  who  will  hold 
out  to  us  the  golden  sceptre,  and  charge  his  angels 
to  bid  us  welcome.  Such  manifold  power  is  there 
in  Judah's  spiritual  banner.  It  leads  us  through 
difficulties  which  else  were  insuperable.  That 
power  of  the  Spirit  which  accompanies  it,  dis- 
solves the  gate  of  brass  and  cuts  asunder  the 
bars  of  iron ;  it  opens  a  way  through  stubborn 
rocks,  and  over  mountains  that  reach  to  heaven. 
When  a  combatant  falls  in  the  field,  it  is 
counted  an  honour  for  him  to  be  covered  with 
the  banner.  O  Judah,  let  it  be  the  same  with 
thee  If  thou  fall  or  grow  weak  in  the  conflict, 
instantly  let  the  banner  of  atonement  wave  over 
thee  and  cover  thee;  let  it  animate  thee  again  to 
seek  glory,  honour,  and  immortality.  And  when, 
at  length,  thou  departest  this  life,  depart  u^er 
the  shadow  of  this  banner ;   and  lo,  thou  ha^t 


88 


THE    ENCAMPMENT   OF   JUDAH. 


been  faithful  unto  death,  and  shalt  receive  the 
crown  of  life. 

y.  The  text  further  speaks  of  Judah's  host 
and  CAPTAIN. 

How  astonished  should  we  be,  what  mingled 
terror  and  great  joy  would  surprise  us,  if  sudden- 
ly those  covering  angel-hosts,  which  encompass 
the  spiritual  Israel,  were  to  burst  the  veil  which 
renders  them  invisible  to  mortal  eyes,  and  come 
forth  at  once  into  full  view !  Some  in  this  world 
have  been  favoured  to  behold  a  portion  of  those 
invisible  squadrons  which  always  attend  the 
children  of  God.  Jacob  was  thus  favoured  when 
he  fled  from  Laban  :  "And  Jacob  went  on  his 
way,  and  the  angels  of  God  met  him.  And  when 
Jacob  saw  them,  he  said.  This  is  God's  host ;  and 
he  called  the  name  of  that  place  Mahaiiaim,^^ 
which  signifies  two  camps  or  hosts,  Gen.  xxxii. 
1,  2.  Elisha's  servant  enjoyed  a  similar  sight, 
when  he  was  with  his  master  at  Dothan,  whith- 
er the  king  of  Syria  had  sent  horses  and  chariots, 
and  a  great  host  by  night  to  take  him.  "  When 
the  servant  of  the  man  of  God  was  risen  early, 
and  gone  forth,  behold,  an  host  encompassed  the 
city  both  with  horses  and  chariots.  And  his  ser- 
vant said  unto  him,  Alas,  my  master !  how  shall  we 
do  ?  And  he  answered.  Fear  not :  for  they  that 
be  with  us  are  more  than  they  that  be  with  them. 
And  Elisha  prayed,  and  said,  Lord,  I  pray  thee, 
open  his  eyes,  that  he  may  see.    And  the  Lord 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH.  89 

opened  the  eyes  of   the  young  man  ;   and  he 
saw :    and,  behold,  the  mountain   was  full   of 
horses  and  chariots  of  fire  round  about  Elisha," 
2  Kings  vi.   J  4 — 17.     Here  was  another  Maha- 
naim.     Thus  the  spiritual  Judah's  host  is  the 
heavenly  band  of  "  watchers,"  who  are  sent  forth 
to  minister  to  the  safety  and  welfare  of  those 
who    shall  be   heirs  of  salvation.     These  are 
those  mighty  ones  "that excel  in  strength  j"  who, 
with  their  golden  harps  before  the  throne  of  the 
Majesty  on  high,  behold  in  light  the  face  of  the 
Ancient  of  days.     These  are  those  blessed  mes- 
sengers, who,  being  caused  to  fly  swiftly  from 
heaven,  so  gladly  visit  the  dear  children  of  God 
upon  earth  ;  so  gladly  bring  their  concerns  into 
his  presence,  and  are  so  desirous  to  carry  back 
a  good  report  of  them  into  the  everlasting  habi- 
tations ;  who  await  the  Divine  behests  at  the  foot 
of  the  throne ;  and  who  speed  like  the  winds  of 
a  tempest,  and  as  flames  of  fire,  in  holy  impetu- 
osity, and  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  to  the 
assistance  and  protection  of  God's  elect.     It  is 
the  angels  of  God  who  alight  amidst  the  commu- 
nity of  his  saints  here  below ;  who  go  in  and  out 
of  his  city  upon  earth,  to  guard  our  little  ones  from 
harm ;  to  encourage  our  young  men  in  holy  en- 
terprises;   to  invigorate  God's  labourers,   who 
are  bearing  the  burden  and  the  heat  of  the  day  ; 
to  cheer  with  good  tidings  our  aged  and  vener- 
able fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel,  and  to  let  them 
hear  beforehand  the  first  gentle  swell  of  their 
8 


90  THE    ENCAMPM-ENT    OF  JUDAH. 

heavenly  harps.  Oh  !  one  cannot  bat  feel  a 
sweet  and  holy  thrill  at  the  thought,  that  such  a 
host  of  God  invisibly  encampeth  about  them 
that  fear  him.  And  who  knoweth  how  near  al- 
so those  clouds  of  witnesses  who  have  gone 
home  before  us,  and  of  whom  the  world  was 
not  worthy,  may  be  permitted  invisibly  to  return 
to  us  !  Is  it  likely  that  the  gate  by  which  a 
Scimuel.  a  Moses,  and  an  Elias  stepped  back, 
though  but  for  a  {ew  moments,  into  the  circle 
of  their  mortal  brethren, — is  it  likely,  much  less 
is  it  certain,  that  that  gate  has  since  all  along 
been  shut  and  barred  ?  Who  would  assert  this  ? 
But  it  is  enough  that  we  live  already  in  the 
midst  of  the  invisible  world,  and  have  heavenly 
beings  for  our  friends  and  fellow-servants,  even 
the  angel-spirits  for  ouv  companions  and  guar- 
dian attendants.  And  let  the  naturally  timid 
Christian,  and  those  who  think  themselves  ex- 
posed to  any  personal  danger,  and  are  ready  to 
cry  out,  Alas  !  how  shall  we  do  !  console  them- 
selves with  the  certainty,  that  such  an  invisible 
host  is  always  encamped  round  about  them. 
More  are  those  that  are  for  us,  than  all  those 
that  can  be  against  us.  Let  us  rejoice  in  this, 
and  have  peace. 

VI.  The  name  of  Judah's  captain  is  Nah- 

SHONj  SON  OF  AmMINADAB. 

This  name,  as  will  be  seen  by  its  interpreta- 
tion, truly  belongs  to  the  Prince  of  the  host,  the 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH.  91 

Captain  of  our  salvation.  Nahshon  signifies 
Experience  ;  and  who  is  so  experienced  in  con- 
flict as  He  who  was  made  perfect  in  sufferings, 
and  having  spoiled  principalities  and  powers, 
overcame  death,  and  opened  to  us  the  gate  of 
everlasting  life  !  Who  is  so  experienced  a  cap- 
tain as  He,  whose  unslumbering  pastoral  care 
has  been  exercised  for  ages  in  behalf  of  his  peo- 
ple !  What  arm  is  like  His,  who,  by  himself 
alone,  has  all  along  opened  a  way  for  his  poor 
ransomed  church  to  pass  through  millions  of  her 
foes  !  Who  is  so  experienced  in  the  tumult  and 
alarm  of  war  as  He,  against  whom  the  infatuated 
and  cold-hearted  world  have  been  bearing 
arms  day  and  night,  for  so  many  centuries  ! 
And  who  is  so  accustomed  to  triumph  as  He, 
who  is  making  all  such  enemies  his  footstool, 
and  every  where  abides  last  upon  the  field  ! 
Appropriate  therefore  to  Him  is  the  name  of 
Nahshon,  or  Experience.  And  well  indeed  is 
it  with  those,  who  in  Him  possess  such  a  shield 
of  help,  and  such  a  sword  of  excellency.  He  is 
also  as  truly  in  character  the  son  of  Amminadab. 
For  this  name,  which  signifies  Mi/  people  are  a 
willing  gift^  directs  our  thoughts  first  to  God 
the  Father,  as  freely  giving  to  Christ  all  who 
will  ever  come  unto  him,  and  as  making  them 
also  willing  in  the  day  of  his  power.  We  know 
that  to  the  incarnate  Word,  the  Son  of  God,  hath 
been  assigned  and  given  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world,  a  people  consisting  of  lost  and  ruined 


92  THE    ENCAMPMENT    OP    JUDAH* 

sinners,  enemies  to  God  by  sin  and  wicked 
works  ;  who  being  made  willing  in  the  day  of 
his  power,  show  forth  the  riches  of  his  goodness 
and  grace,  to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  name. 
Hear  his  own  declarations  upon  this  great  sub- 
ject. "  All  that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall  come 
unto  me :  and  him  that  cometh  to  me  1  will  in 
no  wise  cast  out.  This  is  the  Father's  will 
which  hath  sent  me,  that  of  all  which  he  hath 
given  me  I  should  lose  nothing,  but  should 
raise  it  up  again  at  the  last  day,"  John  vi.  37,  39. 
Blessed  then  for  ever  and  ever  are  those,  who, 
mpon  good  and  scriptural  grounds,  can  be  num- 
bered with  this  company  of  his  chosen  ;  whom 
the  Father,  from  everlasting,  hath  given  to  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  not  for  works  of  righteousness 
which  they  have  done,  but  of  his  own  mercy 
and  grace.  These  are  the  true  sheep  of  Christ ; 
and  as  they  belong  to  an  omnipotent  Shepherd, 
he  gives  unto  them  eternal  life;  he  promises 
that  they  shall  never  perish,  and  that  none  shall 
be  able  to  pluck  them  out  of  his  hand. 

Therefore,  in  quietness  and  confidence,  O  Ju- 
dah  of  God,  enjoy  the  name  of  thy  tribe,  thy 
camp,  and  its  position  ;  thy  banner,  thy  host,  thy 
Captain.  Arrogate  not  the  false  liberty  of  march- 
ing or  halting  at  your  own  will.  Suppress  with- 
in you  every  rising  of  pride  and  vanity ;  and 
ever  number  yourselves  among  the  weak  and  the 
poor.  Live  upon  grace  alone :  be  nothing  in 
your  own  eyes  ;  and  whatever  you  are,  let  it  be 


THE    ENCAMPMENT    OF    JUDAH.  93 

in  your  Mediator  and  Surety,  who  is  your 
strength  and  your  salvation.  Repose  only  in  his 
merits,  his  grace  and  power.  Abide  under  the 
banner  to  which  you  are  sworn,  and  which  is 
both  your  glory  and  your  consolation  ;  the  cer- 
tain pledge  of  your  victory  and  your  liberty.  Let 
your  face  be  always  turned  towards  the  sun- 
rising  ;  look  not  behind  you  after  the  false  glare 
of  this  world,  till  "  your  light  is  come,  and  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  be  risen  upon  you."  Look  for 
the  brightness  of  its  rising,  and  breathe  the  morn- 
ing air  :  for  this  is  the  will  of  your  God.  Say 
not  in  your  heart,  I  will  walk  in  darkness  ;  for 
twilight  at  least  is  before  you.  Neither  let  the 
night  visions  of  your  sins,  infirmities,  or  crimes, 
nor  th©body  of  sin  and  death,  suggest  desponden- 
cy to  your  penitent  heart.  Look  beyond  them 
all  to  the  morning  of  the  promised  jubilee  of 
complete  redemption,  which  is  drawing  nearer  to 
you  every  hour.  Rise  amidst  the  beamings  of 
hope,  and  hold  converse  with  heaven  itself  Tri- 
umph over  darkness,  temptations,  and  death,  by 
an  upward  flight  of  faith  ;  and  thus  let  your 
spirit  mingle  with  the  dawn  of  eternal  day.  O 
Judah,  be  of  good  courage;  for  it  is  the  Lord's 
command.  Sing  cheerfully  thy  morning  song, 
even  in  those  vales  of  mist  and  darkness,  through 
which  thy  way  may  conduct  thee.  He  leads  us, 
whose  name  is  Immanuel,  God  with  us.    Amen. 


WISDOM'S  DELIGHTS  WITH  THE 

SONS  OF  MEN. 


Proverbs  viii.  31. 

Rejoicing  in  the  liabitable  part  of  bis  earth  ;  and  my  delights 
wei'e  with  the  sons  of  men. 

The  key  to  this  mysterious  chapter  is  not  dif- 
ficult to  be  found.  Divine  Wisdom  is  the  speak- 
er ;  and  we  know  that  Christ  is  personally  "  The 
Wisdom  of  God,"  1  Cor.  i.  24.  He  is  that  Wis- 
dom which  is  "justified  of  her  children;"  and 
which  said,  "  I  will  send  unto  you  prophets  and 
apostles,"  Luke  xi.  49. 

In  the  words  before  us,  there  are  revealed,  con- 
cerning this  personal,  substantial,  and  self-exis- 
tent Wisdom,  things  which  may  be  easily  appre- 
hended by  the  light  of  the  New  Testament.  We 
shall  begin  with  the  latter  part  of  the  verse. 

I.  My  delights  were  with  the  sons  of 

MEN. 

Wisdom  then  has  her  delights  ;  and  where 
does  she  find  them  ?  Are  they  only  about  the 
tree  of  life,  by  the  river  of  the  water  of  life,  where, 
crowned  with  glory,  she  beholds  ten  thousand 
times  ten  thousand  celebrating  her  praises,  doing 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  95 

her  homage,  and  ministering  unto  her?  Not  so. 
Her  delights  overflow  beyond  the  bounds  of  para- 
dise ;  they  descend  even  to  "  the  sons  of  men." 
This  is  spoken,  not  only  in  reference  to  the  be- 
ginning of  time,  when  it  must  have  been  the 
Lord's  delight  to  dwell  with  man,  to  walk  among 
the  trees  of  the  garden,  and  to  behold  the  first  in- 
nocent pair  ;  but  here  is  reference  also  to  the  time 
after  sin  entered  our  world,  and  "  the  imagination 
of  man's  heart  had  become  evil  from  his  youth," 
and  the  whole  human  race  had  become  "  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins,"  entangled  in  the  snare  of  the 
devil,  laden  with  iniquity,  subjected  to  the  curse 
of  the  violated  law,  and  sunk  fast  in  the  deep  mire 
where  no  ground  is.  Well  then  may  we  be  as- 
tonished, that  of  our  race,  under  such  circumstan- 
ces, the  Lord  of  glory  should  say,  "  My  delights 
are  with  the  sons  of  men." 

These  delights  are  manifold.  The  prime  of 
them  doubtless  is  that  which  he  finds  in  his  own 
self.  For  his  name  only  is  excellent,  beautiful, 
and  amiable  ;  and  his  praise,  above  heaven  and 
earth.  All  else  is  lovely  and  glorious,  only  in  so 
far  as  it  has  emanated  from  Him,  and  is  perfect- 
ed by  Him.  He  has  complacential  delight  in  him- 
self, for  he  only  is  perfection,  independent  and 
eternal.  The  communications  of  his  glorious  at- 
tributes are  also  his  delight.  But  where  do  these 
communications  rest,  if  not  on  the  sons  of  men  ? 
The  elect  angels  have  a  glory  put  upon  them 
distinct  from  these.    The  glory  of  Christ  is  a 


96  wisdom's  delights 

special  boon  to  sinners.     Wonderful  as  this  ap- 
pears, it  is  truth;  and  that  is  more  wonderful. 
For  the  sake  of  sinners  he  made  himself  of  no 
reputation  ;  despoiling  himself,  as  it  were,  of  his 
glory.     He  does  keep  his  white  raiment  not  for 
himself  alone,  but  bestows  it  for  the  adorning  of 
his    "  bride,"  the  church.      Were  it  otherwise, 
how  could  we  lift  up  our  eyes  to  heaven  1   How 
could  we  be  of  such  good  courage,  did  not  his 
righteousness  cover  all  our  sins  1     How  could  we 
think  of  God  as  our  Father,  in  whose  sight  "  the 
heavens  are  not  clean,"  unless  we  are  assured 
that  we  are  clothed  with  the  righteousness  of  Him 
who  is  all  righteous,  and  invested  with  the  holi- 
ness of  Him  who  alone  is  holy  1     How  could  we, 
who  are  as  the  bruised  reed,  withstand  all  the  pow- 
er of  the  enemy,  were  we  not  assured  that  we  are 
strengthened  with  might  by  his  Spirit  ?     How 
could  we  ever  expect  to  have  boldness  in  the  day 
of  judgment,  were  we  ignorant  or  unmindful  of 
that  saving  truth,  that  "  by  the  obedience  of  One 
shall  many  be  made  righteous  ?"     But  the  gospel 
encourages  us  to  draw  nigh  unto  God.  in  full  as- 
surance of  faith,  relying  entirely  on  Him  "who 
is  made  to  us,  Wisdom,  Righteousness,  Sanctifi- 
eation,  and  Redemption,"  and  to  regard  him,  in 
these  respects,  as  our  own.     It  may  be  said,  that 
it  is  an  easy  thing  to  shine  in  the  merits  of  ano- 
ther.    This,  however,  is  God's  way  of  saving  sin- 
ners ;  and  easy  as  it  is,  few  are  found  to  adopt, 
or  even  to  believe  it.     Thus  then  are  his  delights 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  97 

with  the  sons  of  men.  "Father,"  said  he,  brief- 
ly, but  clearly,  "  the  glory  which  thou  gavest 
me,  I  have  given  themj'*  John  xvii.  22. 

This  glory  is  his  delight :  and  as  his  supreme 
delight  is  in  his  own  perfections,  not  less  so  is  it 
in  those  works  of  his,  to  which  the  glory  of  his 
perfections  is  communicated.  Accordingly  it  is 
written,  "  The  Lord  shall  rejoice  in  his  works," 
Psa.  civ.  31.  But  where  is  the  liOrd  Christ's  spe- 
cial work  ?  Not  among  the  powers  of  darkness  ; 
for  they  have  been,  as  it  were,  their  own  artifi- 
cers ;  they  have  wrought  themselves  upon  their 
own  wheel  into  what  they  are.  Not  among  the 
angels  of  light,  for  they  have  kept  their  first  es- 
tate :  they  have  suffered  none  to  take  their  crown, 
but  have  holden  it  by  unsinning  obedience.  Not 
among  the  virtuous  or  righteous  after  the  flesh  : 
they  presume  upon  being  good  without  Christ, 
and  their  cause  will  have  to  be  tried  at  the  bar 
of  God.  If  then  you  look  for  the  Lord's  special 
work,  look  for  it  among  such  as  smite  upon  their 
breast  and  cry,  "  God  be  merciful  unto  me  a  sin- 
ner !"  "  Thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me/'* 
"  The  dogs  eat  of  the  crumbs  that  fall  from  their 
master's  table."  Look  for  it  among  those  who 
are  ready  to  wash  the  feet  of  Jesus  with  their 
tears,  and  to  wipe  them  with  the  hairs  of  their 
head :  or  among  those  who  will  tell  you,  that 
once  they  were  blasphemers,  and  persecutors,  and 
injurious,  but  they  obtained  mercy.  The  lan- 
guage of  all  such  is,  "  Whom  have  I  in  heaven 


98 


but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  thati  de- 
sire beside  thee,"  Ps.  Ixxiii.  25.  "  Lord,  thou 
knowest  all  things ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love 
thee,"  John  xxi.  16,  or,  "  Though  he  slay  me, 
yet  will  I  trust  in  him,"  Job  xiii.  15.  It  is  where 
we  behold  such  stirrings  as  these  ;  where  the 
stony  heart  is  replaced  by  a  heart  of  flesh  ;  where 
the  forehead  receives  his  mark,  and  bears  an  im- 
press from  the  seal  of  his  Spirit ;  where  eyes  that 
never  wept  for  sin,  become  fountains  of  tears,  that 
glisten  with  the  light  of  heaven  ;  where  righte- 
ous ones  begin  to  mourn  like  doves  over  the 
ruins  of  their  own  righteousness,  and  the  once 
wise  of  this  world  now  reflect  upon  the  sherds 
and  rubbish  of  their  own  wisdom,  and  lament 
that  "like  a  crane  or  a  swallow  so  did  they  chat- 
ter," Isa.  xxxviii.  14 ;  where  poor  and  miserable 
sinners  have  found  heart  to  love  him  ;  where  the 
once  condemned  criminal  can  cheerfully  venture 
to  appeal,  in  the  presence  of  accusers,  to  a  merci- 
ful Saviour  as  his  gracious  Advocate  ajid  Protec- 
tor. Here,  beloved  brethren,  is  the  Lord  Christ's 
work,  his  special  work ;  and  wherever  this  is 
found,  there  is  his  delight ;  and  it  is  found,  with 
the  sons  of  men,  with  poor  redeemed  sinners.  In 
them  is  his  complacency  ;  they  are  -'the  travail 
of  his  soul ;"  he  "  beholds  "  them,  and  is  "  satis- 
fied." 

The  language  of  inspiration  contains  frequent- 
ly much  in  fQVJ-  words ;  and  this  is  particularly 
true  of  the  gracious  words  uttered  by  our  blessed 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  99 

Lord  himself.  How  unlike  the  common  lan- 
guage of  mankind,  which  often  consists  of  many 
words  with  little  meaning  !  "  My  delights  were 
with  the  sons  of  men,"  are  the  words  here ;  but 
they  evidently  convey  the  notion  of  dioelUng 
with  the  sons  of  men.  He  is  not  ashamed  to 
speak  with  such  condescension  and  love  as  this 
to  poor  sinners  ;  for  "  he  is  not  ashamed  to  call 
them  brethren."  Consequently  he  will  dwell 
with  them,  and  this  is  his  delight.  As  it  is  also 
written,  "  Heaven  is  my  throne,  and  the  earth  is 
my  footstool,  but  to  this  man  will  I  look,  even 
to  him  that  is  poor  and  of  a  contrite  spirit,"  Isa. 
Ixvi.  1,  2. 

But  oh !  most  blessed  Saviour,  how  can  thy 
complacency  rest  where  there  is  so  much  to  pro- 
voke thy  righteous  displeasure  !  How  can  it  be 
thy  delight  to  dwell  among  those  who  have  no 
natural  delight  in  thee  !  Or,  how  can  thy  joy 
be  fulfilled,  or  thy  rejoicing  break  forth,  where 
all  is  so  wearying  and  revolting  !  Yet  he  says, 
"  My  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men." 
That  these  his  delights  are  not  transitory,  but 
deeply  rooted  and  everlasting,  has  from  age  to 
age  been  manifested,  ever  since  the  beginning  of 
the  world.  Look  back  to  that  beginning  of  time, 
before  even  one  human  being  was  formed,  and 
observe  what  a  sublime  process  ushered  in  man's 
creation.  Man,  who  was  to  have  dominion  over 
every  thing  upon  the  earth,  was  not  created  like 
the  other  creatures.     God  said  of  every  thing  be- 


100 


sides,  "  Let  it  be,"  and  it  was  so.  They  were 
made  in  a  moment,  by  the  word  of  his  mouth. 
But  in  creating  man,  God  became,  as  it  were,  the 
potter,  and  formed  him  carefully  out  of  the  dust 
of  the  earth ;  and  then,  after  he  had  fashioned 
the  dust,  and  breathed  the  breath  of  life  into  liis 
nostrils,  "  man  became  a  living  soul." 

No  sooner  was  man  formed,  than  we  find  the 
Lord  God,  in  the  character  of  Immanuel,  already 
with  him  walking  among  the  trees  of  the  garden. 
Neither  was  there  any  thing  very  strange  or  as- 
tonishing in  this,  as  long  as  man  continued  inno- 
cent. But  what  if  we  assert,  that,  by  the  fall  it- 
self^ and  in  consequence  of  human  sijij  his  de- 
light to  dwell  with  us  became  only  greater 
THAN  EVER  !  Docs  it  sccm  credible  ?  And  yet 
it  is  the  fact.  Verily,  now  began  to  "sound  like 
an  harp,"  the  "bowels"  of  his  compassion  to- 
wards us.  "  For  the  Lord  is  gracious ;  his 
mercy  is  everlasting ;  he  delighteth  in  mercy." 
Henceforth  began  to  be  evinced  the  full  meaning 
of  that  oracular  message,  "  Be  silent,  O  all  flesh, 
before  the  Lord  ;  for  he  is  raised  up  out  of  his 
holy  habitation,"  Zech.  ii.  13. 

If  we  look  back  into  the  days  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, we  shall  see  how  the  blessed  Saviour 
from  the  beginning  went  in  and  out  amongst  his 
sinful  creatures  ;  and  built  himself  tabernacles 
amidst  dust  and  ashes.  Behold,  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Beersheba,  how  he  visited  Hagar,  the 
Egyptian  handmaid,  and  comforted  her   with 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  101 

words  of  kindness.  Pass  on  to  the  plains  of 
Mamre,  and  witness  that  delightful  sight,  the 
Lord  as  Abraham's  guest  at  the  tent  door  in  the 
cool  of  the  day,  and  the  two  angels  with  him, 
sitting  and  eating  under  the  tree,  Gen.  xvhi. 
Revisit  Peniel,  where  he  appears  as  a  man  ;  and 
Mount  Horeb,  where  he  manifests  himself,  not 
upon  a  throne,  but  in  a  bush,  burning  with  fire 
and  not  consumed.  Let  the  cloudy  pillar  open 
for  a  moment,  and  there  you  behold  the  glory  of 
his  countenance.  Think  of  his  abiding  forty 
years  in  that  cloud  by  day,  and  in  a  shining  pil- 
lar of  fire  by  night ;  and  this  for  the  sake  of 
guiding,  like  the  sun,  and  protecting,  as  with  a 
shield,  a  stiff-necked  people,  who  were  constant- 
ly rebelling  against  him.  What  delights  with 
the  sons  of  men  were  here !  Nor  had  he  for- 
gotten them  at  Ophrah,  where  Gideon  beheld 
him  as  the  Angel- Jehovah,  sitting  under  an  oak. 
The  time  would  fail  us  to  speak  of  Jerusalem 
and  its  temple,  where  he  dwelt  between  the  cher- 
ubim above  the  mercy-seat,  and  of  his  visitations 
by  all  his  holy  prophets  down  to  the  time  of 
Malachi.  But  we  find  him  nearer  to  us  still ; 
for  whither  are  we  arrived  this  day  ?  Is  it  not 
at  Bethlehem  ?  Come  then,  and  let  us  pay  a 
devout  visit  to  the  stable  and  to  the  manger. 
What  do  you  there  see  ?  It  is  a  babe,  an  infant 
of  days,  and  yet  the  very  same  who  said,  "  My 
delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men  !"  "  God 
manifest  in  the  flesh !''  How  unutterably  won- 
9 


102 


derful !  "  The  mighty  God  ?  The  everlasting 
Father  !  The  Prince  of  Peace  !"  "  My  Lord 
and  my  God  !"  Here  human  reason  is  at  a  stand  ; 
our  knees  tremble  ;  our  hearts  throb  ;  our  spirits 
are  confounded,  and  we  retain  no  strength. 
The  miracle  of  mercy  is  too  overpowering  for 
the  weakness  of  mortals.  It  is  well  at  present 
that  we  as  yet  see  it  through  a  veil  and  at  a 
distance,  hardly  admitting  into  the  mind  the  thou- 
sandth part  of  it ;  otherwise  we  should  die  :  so 
vastly  more  is  it  than  at  present  we  could  bear. 
Thus  His  former  dwelling  with  Israel  in  that  fa- 
miliar intercourse  already  noticed,  was  very  far 
from  being,  in  the  fulness  of  his  own  meaning,  his 
dwellincr  with  the  sons  of  men.  It  was  a  rela- 
tionship  too  foreign  ;  a  friendship  too  lukewarm. 
Viewing  himself  simply  as  God,  and  the'jn  as 
poor  sinners,  he  saw  that  the  distance  was  still 
infinitely  too  wide  :  he  therefore  "  made  himself 
of  no  reputation,  and  was  found  in  the  likeness 
of  men,"  "  The  Son  of  ??ia7z,"  a  human  child, 
our  real  kinsman,  our  brother.  But  alas  !  how 
easily  can  men  talk  of  such  wonders,  as  if  they 
were  either  nothing,  or  something  quite  familiar 
and  of  common  place  ;  while  the  eyes  of  sera- 
phim, who  from  their  heavenly  elevations  have 
been  looking  down  almost  two  thousand  years 
into  this  abyss  of  love,  have  never  been  able  to 
ascertain  its  depth,  nor  to  cease  from  their  ador- 
ing admiration  of  it !  Their  sublimest  harmony 
of  the  hallelujah  is  raised  up  from  this  profound. 


WITH   THE   SONS   OF    MEN.  103 

What  led  the  Saviour  to  such  exceedingly- 
great  condescension?  It  was  purely  of  His  ten- 
der love  towards  mankind.  "  My  delights  were 
with  the  sons  of  men."  But  whence  originated  this 
ove  of  God  ?  It  originated  in  his  own  bosom  ; 
and  we  can  say  no  more,  and  see  no  further 
Bear  then  in  mind,  beloved  brethren,  that  al- 
though Christ  be  no  longer  the  infant  in  the 
manger,  still  he  continues  as  a  man.  He  is  otir 
brother  unto  this  day,  though  now  upon  the 
throne  of  heaven.  He  has  still  a  human  and 
brotherly  heart  towards  us,  which  is  touched  as 
tenderly  as  ever,  with  "  the  feeling  of  our  infir- 
mities," having  himself  been  "  in  all  points  tempt- 
ed like  as  we  are."  And  though  we  cannot,  as  did 
Mary  and  Simeon,  take  him  as  the  child  Jesus  in 
our  arms,  his  delight  to  dwell  with  the  sons  of  men 
is  so  far  from  being  at  all  diminished,  that  he  is 
still  as  near  to  us,  and  his  dwelling  with  us  is  as 
intimate,  as  when  he  was  upon  earth,  and  even 
more  so.  For  under  the  New  Testament  dispensa- 
tion, there  is  a  more  abiding  and  entire  habita- 
tion of  God  our  Saviour  m  us,  as  well  as  with 
us.  It  is  not  the  tarrying  only  with  us  for  a  day, 
however  delightful  this  may  be  to  an  Abraham,  a 
Matthew,  or  a  Zaccheus  ;  it  is  no  going  in  and 
out,  as  in  the  camp  of  Israel,  when  the  glory  of 
the  Lord  appeared  at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle. 
But  as  truly  as  Christ  dwelleth  in  heaven,  in 
the  high  and  holy  place,  (and  there  indeed  he 
abideth  a  Priest  Gonlinually,)  so  truly  is  he  with 


104  wisdom's  delights 

his  people  upon  earth  during  all  the  days  of 
their  pilgrimage.  The  High  and  Lofty  One, 
who  inhabiteth  eternity,  whom  heaven  and  the 
heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain,  thus  in  very 
deed  dwells  with  man.  He  will  have  a  church  in 
every  Christian's  house  ;  and  where  should  he 
be  if  not  in  his  church  ?  That  is,  in  the  very 
midst  of  every  Christian  family.  Verily,  Christ 
speaks  of  himself  as  more  than  even  ?i  family  in- 
mate, "  If  any  one  hear  my  voice,  and  open  the 
door,  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup 
with  him,  and  he  with  me,"  Rev.  iii.  20.  And 
as  to  his  continuance^  he  saith,  "  Lo,  I  am  v/ith 
you  alivay^  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world," 
Matt,  xxviii.  20.  Well  may  we  "praise  the 
Lord  for  his  goodness ;"  for  his  condescension 
to  the  children  of  men,  Psa.  cvii.  8.  And  if  He 
delight  thus  to  "  dwell  with  "  us,  and  "  in  the 
midst  of"  us,  what  may  we  not  look  for  at  his 
hands,  in  the  way  of  counsel  and  instruction  ; 
not  merely  on  our  most  important  occasions,  but 
as  a  very  pleasant  help  and  guide  to  us  even  in 
our  daily  emergencies  !  He  is  in  the  house,  in 
the  family,  in  the  heart ;  and  we  may  refer 
every  thing  to  him  :  yes,  every  thing.  For  im- 
agine not,  my  brethren,  that,  according  to  the 
common  meaning  of  the  words  devotional  or 
spiritual^  he  is  too  spiritual  for  you  to  refer  to 
him  all  your  temporal  matters.  Remember,  that 
the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  your  Saviour,  who  was 
pleased  to  concern  himself  about  the  widow's 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  105 

handful  of  meal  in  a  barrel,  and  her  little  oil  in  a 
cruse,  is  equally  pleased  to  concern  himself  that 
you  also  may  "lack  nothing"  you  really  need. 
O  would  ye  but  believe,  ye  should  see  the  glory 
of  God.  O  Israel,  Israel !  "what  nation  is  there 
that  can  find  their  gods  so  nigh  unto  them,  as  the 
Lord  our  God  is,  in  all  things  that  we  call  upon 
him  for  ?"  Deut.  iv.  7.  Who  delights  to  be  about 
our  path,  and  to  watch  at  our  bed  ;  to  stand  by  us 
in  our  labours  and  employments,  and  to  concern 
himself  that  we  shall  lack  nothing  that  is  either 
temporally  or  spiritually  good,  Luke  xxii.  35. 
For  "his  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men." 

II.  Divine  Wisdom  is  also  represented,  in  our 
text,  as  rejoicing  in  the  habitable  part  of  God's 
earth.  The  Hebrew  original  is  peculiarly  for- 
cible and  poetical ;  it  indicates  the  liveliest  ex- 
ultation and  delight,  meaning  literally,  playing 
or  disporting  on  the  orb  of  God's  earth. 

Let  us  notice  the  context ;  "Jehovah  possess- 
ed me  in  the  beginning  of  his  way,  before  his 
works  of  old.  I  was  set  up  from  everlasting, 
from  the  beginning,  or  ever  the  earth  was. 
When  there  were  no  depths,  I  was  brought  forth  ; 
when  there  were  no  fountains  abounding  with 
water.  Before  the  mountains  were  settled,  be- 
fore the  hills  was  I  brought  forth  ;  while  as  yet 
he  had  not  made  the  earth,  nor  the  fields,  nor 
the  highest  parts  of  the  dust  of  the  world. 
When  he  prepared  the  heavens,  I  was  there : 
9* 


106  wisdom's  delights. 

when  he  set  a  compass  upon  the  face  of  the 
depth :  when  he  established  the  clouds  above : 
when  he  strengthened  the  fountains  of  the  deep  : 
when  he  gave  to  the  sea  his  decree,  that  the 
waters  should  not  pass  his  commandment : 
when  he  appointed  the  foundations  of  the  earth  : 
then  I  was  by  him.  as  one  brought  up  with  him, 
and  I  was  daily  his  delight,  rejoicing  always  be- 
fore him.  Reioicing  in  the  habitable  part"  (or, 
in  the  orb)  "  of  his  earth,  and  my  delights  were 
with  the  sons  of  men."  What  then  is  implied  in 
such  declarations  as  these  ?  Surely  that,  as  He 
formed  the  earth  and  the  world  with  ioisdo?n,  so 
also  with  love  :  as  he  formed  it  for  the  immediate 
benefit,  so  also  for  the  happiness  of  his  crea- 
tures ;  and  moreover,  with  a  special  view  to  the 
pleasure  and  delight  of  the  sons  of  men,  on  whom 
he  had  already  thought  with  tenderness.  Yes, 
my  beloved  brethren,  when  he  spread  a  flowery 
carpet  upon  the  fields,  and  gave  to  the  lilies  their 
holiday  adorning  ;  when  he  tinged  the  heavens 
with  their  lovely  azure,  and  poured  into  the  ve- 
getable world  its  congenial  green;  when  he 
built  the  mountains  and  {iiHs,  so  as  to  embosom 
between  them  many  a  far-stretched  level  of  de- 
lightful verdure,  and  sunk  the  beautifully  seques- 
tered valleys  far  beneath,  with  their  cool  rivulets 
and  crystal  brooks ;  when  he  bestowed  upon  the 
little  songsters  of  the  woods  the  gift  of  their  sweet 
melody,  and  taught  the  lark  to  praise  the  Lord 
in  the  height ;  when  he  was  thus  engaged  in  dis- 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  107 

pensinga  profusion  of  bountiful  convenience,  ap- 
propriate decoration,  and  lovely  colouring,  then 
might  Divine  wisdom  be  said  to  have  "  rejoiced 
in  the  habitable  globe."  And  when  the  Father  of 
creation  so  arranged  the  whole,  as  to  make  the  face 
of  nature  serve  literally  as  a  book  of  God, 
•though  many  parts  even  of  this  book  are  above 
the  present  reach  of  our  faculties ;  when  he  ap- 
pointed "the  things  which  are  seen"  to  be  as 
vehicles  and  types  for  conveying  to  as  some  dis- 
tant notion  of  the  things  which  are  spiritual  and 
invisible,  and  made  them  pleasingly  hieroglyphi- 
cal  of  a  multitude  of  sublime  and  eternal  truths, 
the  deciphering  of  which  furnishes  a  delightful 
employment  down  to  the  present  day  ;  when,  for 
instance,  he  set  the  sun  in  the  firmament  as  a 
memento  of  himself,  making  its  influence  a  visi- 
ble representation  of  his  own  influence  in  the 
spiritual  world  ;  when  he  constituted  the  grain 
of  wheat,  which  falls  into  the  earth  and  dies,  in 
the  process  of  putting  forth  the  living  germ  of  a 
new  and  noble  plant,  seemingly  to  attest  the 
physical  reality  of  that  new  birth  which  he  has 
taught  to  be  indispensable  to  ourselves  ;  and 
when  he  appointed  the  beautiful  butterfly,  light- 
ly poising  with  its  painted  wings  upon  the  rose, 
and  reminding  us  of  the  death-like  changes 
through  which  it  has  passed,  as  if  sweetly  and 
gracefully  to  preach  to  us  of  a  joyful  resurrection, 
and  subsequent  glorious  liberty  of  the  children 
of  God,  Rom.  vii.  21 ; — then,  yes  then,  was  our 


108 


own  Saviour,  Immanuel.  by  Him  as  one  brought 
up  with  Him,  and  He,  by  whom  God  created  all 
things,  was  daily  his  dehght,  rejoicing  always 
before  Him ;  rejoicing  in  the  orb  of  his  earth, 
with  prospective  delight,  among  the  sons  of  men. 
And  in  Christ,  the  Wisdom  of  God,  as  thus 
graciously  revealed,  the  same  wonderful  conde- 
scension continues  still.  We  know  that  an  af- 
fectionate mother,  intent  on  promoting  the  com- 
fort and  happiness  of  her  little  child,  succeeds  in 
her  object  by  cheerfully  adapting  herself  to  the 
child's  simple  and  innocent  ideas  and  disposi- 
tions. Now,  it  is  precisely  in  this  way  that  our 
blessed  Lord  has  condescended  to  us  his  weak 
and  helpless  creatures,  and  shows  his  delight  in 
the  sons  of  men,  by  continuing  thus  to  stoop 
down  to  us.  Every  instance  of  his  adapting 
himself,  as  far  as  can  be,  to  our  human  notions, 
wishes,  and  expressions,  is  an  instance  of  that 
peculiar  delight  attributed  to  Him  in  the  text. 
Attend  only  to  His  language  every  where,  and 
observe  how  his  own  Spirit  teaches  his  prophets 
and  apostles  to  do  the  same,  and  to  be  "  gentle 
among  them,  even  as  a  nurse  cherisheth  her 
children,"  1  Thess.  ii.  7  ;  how  he  will  not  dis- 
dain to  own  their  poor  addresses  to  him,  and  to 
make  himself  intelligible  to  them  in  their  own 
imperfect  dialect.  Observe  how,  on  all  occa- 
sions, he  condescends  to  our  human  conceptions, 
that  he  may  draw  nigh  to  us,  and  become  known 
by  us,     Though  the  "  gifts  and  calling  of  God 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  109 

are  without  repentance,"  yet  mark  how  often  he 
speaks  of  its  repenting  him  because  of  the  groan- 
ings  of  his  people  ;  and  of  its  repenting  him  of 
the  evil.  See  again,  how,  in  order  to  give  us 
joyful  ideas  of  the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed  in 
us,  he  adapts  himself  to  our  conceptions,  by  bor- 
rowing his  imagery  from  our  human  delights  and 
earthly  recreations,  when  he  speaks  of  that  un- 
utterable glory,  as  a  feast  for  invited  guests  ;  a 
marriage  supper  ;  a  dwelling  in  the  mansions  of 
his  Father's  house ;  in  a  city  with  beautiful 
streets  and  buildings  ;  an  adorning  with  precious 
stones  and  shining  metals  ;  a  partaking  of  plea- 
sant fruits  ;  repose  in  paradise  beneath  the  tree 
of  life,  and  so  forth.  Why  is  all  this,  but  be- 
cause our  present  condition,  compared  with  that 
in  futurity,  is  only  as  childhood  compared  with 
manhood  ?  Is  not  then  such  condescension  of 
the  blessed  God  our  Saviour  to  our  compara- 
tively childish  conceptions,  that  he  may  gradual- 
ly, as  by  Jacob's  ladder,  conduct  us  up  to  con- 
ceptions of  his  own,  only  another  beautiful  illus- 
tration of  the  words  of  the  text?  Surely  he 
who  does  not  know  God  in  these  his  gracious 
doings,  cannot  be  said  to'  have  beheld  "  with 
open  face  as  in  a  mirror  the  glory  of  the  Lord." 
Again  ;  consider  the  manner  in  which  he 
brings  his  mysteries  near  to  us,  for  the  strength- 
ening of  our  faith  in  his  declarations  and  promi- 
ses. It  is  like  the  manner  of  adaptation  to  little 
children.     For  he  sets  before  us  every  variety 


110  wisdom's  delights 

of  representative  imagery,  to  woo  onr  attention  ; 
and  hereby  to  enable  us,  as  it  were,  to  see,  han- 
dle, and  in  a  degree  to  understand,  what  would 
otherwise  be  unintelligible  to  us.  Thus  to  pre- 
serve fresh  in  remembrance  the  promise  he  gave 
to  Noah,  and  to  keep  up  our  confidence  of  its  ful- 
filment, he  hangs  out  to  us  in  the  clouds  a  beau- 
tiful bow  of  seven  colours,  that  we  may  feast  our 
eyes  upon  it ;  and  assures  us,  that  as  often  as  he 
presents  it  to  us,  he  himself  will  look  upon  it,  and 
remember  his  promise  not  to  curse  the  ground 
any  more  for  man's  sake,  oi:  to  destroy  the  earth 
with  a  flood,  Gen.  ix.  He  graciously  did  the 
same  with  Gideon,  when  he  at  once  so  entirely 
condescended  to  him,  as  to  a  child's  wish,  respect- 
ng  the  fleece  upon  the  threshing-floor.  Gideon, 
wishing  to  have  a  double  seal  of  the  Lord's  prom- 
ise, asked  first,  that  the  dew  should  be  upon  the 
fleece  alone,  and  that  the  floor  on  which  it  lay 
should  be  dry ;  and  then  that  the  fleece  should 
be  perfectly  dry,  while  there  was  dew  all  about 
it  upon  the  ground.  "  And  God  did  so  ;"  he  ful- 
filled the  desire  of  Gideon  in  both  instances, 
Judges  vi.  Such  is  his  condescension  to  human 
infirmity.  But  this  conduct  on  the  part  of  God 
has  always  deep  wisdom  in  it.  Thus  as  the 
Lord,  by  Noah's  rainbow,  depicted  in  soft  linea- 
ments for  spiritual  eyes,  a  representation  of  the 
promised  Mediator  ;  in  like  manner  may  we  not 
suppose  in  that  miracle  of  the  fleece,  there  was  a 
typical  pre-showing  of  the  manner  in  which  he 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  Ill 

bestows  the  spiritual  dew  of  the  new  covenant 
under  the  Christian  dispensation?  For,  pre- 
viously to  this  dispensation,  the  copious  heaven- 
ly dew  was  in  Israel  alone,  and  the  rest  of  the 
earth  was  dry ;  but  since  then,  the  dew  has  de- 
scended upon  the  nations,  and  it  has  been  dry  in 
Israel. 

How  agreeably  and  significantly  did  the  wis- 
dom of  God  win  the  attention  of  the  sons  of  men, 
in  the  structure  and  ordinances  of  the  tabernacle 
of  the  temple  ;  where,  with  every  variety  of 
strange  imagery  and  shadowy  representation,  it 
brought  near  to  them  the  mysteries  of  heavenly 
things,  of  the  highest  and  most  blessed  import ! 
And  in  what  childlike  language  does  it  address 
us,  even  to  this  day,  concerning  the  greatest  won- 
ders and  most  sacred  truths  ;  to  wit,  by  the  wa- 
ter of  baptism,  and  by  the  symbols  and  pledges 
of  the  Lord's  supper !  Are  not  these  things  a 
most  condescending  accommodation  of  the  wis- 
dom of  God  to  the  weakness  of  his  children, 
which  seems  to  require  something  of  a  sensible 
and  representative  kind,  in  order  to  understand 
and  believe?  Behold  Divine  Wisdom's  lovely 
and  gracious  condescension,  in  adapting  herself 
thus  to  the  comparative  childhood  of  our  present 
condition  ! 

And  how  much  is  there  of  the  same  character 
in  God's  every-day  communion  with  his  beloved 
children  !  Oh  that  we  were  always  as  quietly 
confident  as  we  ought  to  be,  that  this  is  all  he 


112  wisdom's  delights 

means,  even  when  his  dealings  with  us  appear 
in  a  light  which  is  much  too  gloomy,  and  by 
which  we  admit  needless  cares  and  anxieties  into 
the  mindj  instead  of  rejoicing  in  the  Lord  ever- 
more !  "  He  hideth  his  face,  and  we  are  trou- 
bled ;"  as  if  his  mercy  were  clean  gone  for  ever, 
and  his  promise  come  utterly  to  an  end  for  ever- 
more. But  it  is  not  so.  He  is  but  behind  "  the 
lattice,"  Sol.  Song  ii.  9,  and  would  have  us  call 
upon  him,  saying,  "  Return,  O  Lord,  how  long  ? 
and  let  it  repent  thee  concerning  thy  servants," 
Psa.  xc.  13.  Then,  according  to  his  promise, 
will  he  hear  and  answer  us ;  for  sweet  to  him"  at 
all  times  is  the  voice  of  his  obedient  children, 
Sol.  Song  ii.  14.  At  one  time  we  may  feel  as  if 
He  had  even  repented  of  having  "  forgiven  us  all 
trespasses."  Then  will  our  old  sins  rise  up 
against  us  ;  sins  which  we  thought  had  long  ago 
been  cast  into  the  depths  of  the  sea ;  and  we 
tremble  to  behold  them,  as  at  our  first  repentance. 
But  the  Lord,  even  at  this  season,  is  only  deal- 
ing with  us  as  with  his  forgetful  children,  to  re- 
awaken our  first  love.  At  another  time,  even  in 
the  midst  of  his  gracious  discoveries  and  influen- 
ces, he  suddenly  shows  us  the  enormity  of  our 
past  transgressions,  beyond  the  maimer  in  which 
we  had  ever  seen  or  felt  it  before.  Then  it  seems 
as  if  we  surely  must  sink  down  again  under  his 
just  displeasure.  Here,  however,  he  is  only 
"dealing  with  us  as  with  children."  And  he 
does  so,  that  we  may  the  more  sweetly  taste  how 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  113 

gracious  he  is,  and  set  increasing  value  upon  the 
merit  of  his  atonement,  and  upon  the  influences 
of  his  Holy  Spirit.     Again,  he  permits  our  an- 
cient adversary  to  stretch  out  his  hand  with  a 
desire  to  take  our  crown,  or  at  least  to  shatter 
the  foundation  of  our  hope  and  comfort.     Then 
is  the  cry  heard,  "  Lord,  save  us  •  we  perish," 
Luke  viii.  24.     But  we  perish  not ;  neither  is  the 
danger  so  great  as  we  imagine.     Closely  consid- 
ered, it  is  only  a  dealing  with  us  as  with  chil- 
dren, on  the  part  of  God's  adorable  Wisdom^ 
which  suffers  such  things  to  come  to  pass,  that 
we  may  hold  fast  that  we  have.  Rev.  ii.  10,  25, 
and  not,  as  we  imagine,  that  we  may  lose  it. 
And  when  He  brings  us  through  many  a  laby- 
rinth in  our  earthly  course,  for  the  quickening 
of  our  spiritual   understanding;    or,  when  he 
takes  up,  and  makes  use  of  the  most  trifling  cir- 
cumstances in  our  life,  to  convey  something  com- 
fortable to  our  hearts,  or  something  instructive 
and  profitable  :  when  he  causes  objects  of  every- 
day occurrence  to  become  beautifully  eloquent 
and  appropriate  representations  of  a  great  variety 
of  spiritual  blessings,  and  to  remind  us  of  a  doc- 
trine, a  precept,  a  warning,  a  consolation,  a  prom- 
ise, or  a  narrative  in  his  holy  word :  when  he 
manifests  such  tender  regard  to  the  least  of  our 
wishes,  and  so  kindly  surprises  us  with  his  gui- 
dance  and  blessing   in    the  smallest  matters : 
when,  as  we  peruse  the  sacred  volume,  we  find 
him  converting  some  scriptural  occurrence,  ap' 
10 


114 


DELIGHTS 


parently  unimportant,  into  a  typical  or  paraboli- 
cal representation,  full  of  refreshment  to  our 
souls ;  thus  teaching  us  to  obtain  figs  from  this- 
tles, and  delicious  grapes  from  the  thorny  bush  : 
—in  all  such  instances  the  Divine  Wisdom  is 
tenderly  condescending  to  the  wants  of  the  chil- 
dren of  men,  and  "  rejoicing  in  the  habitable  part 
of  his  earth." 

If,  moreover,  by  that  word  "  rejoicing "  you 
would  also  be  reminded  of  sweet  music,  it  is 
applicable  to  this  also.  All  the  music  on  earth 
which  is  not  made  bi/  Christ  and  for  him,  is 
discordant  in  his  ear,  and  as  the  raven's  croak. 
As  it  was  He  who  gave  to  David's  harp  so  sweet 
a  sound,  vibrated  its  strings  upon  the  hills  of 
Bethlehem,  inspired  the  royal  bard  with  his  own 
voice,  and  directed  it  in  those  lovely  psalms  to 
personate  Himself,  so  it  is  no  other  than  He,  who 
still  to  the  present  day,  opens  the  lips  of  them 
that  sing  with  the  spirit  and  with  the  understand- 
ing also.  He  opens  their  lips  to  show  forth  His 
praise ;  he  gives  harmony  to  their  voices,  and 
cheerful  melody  to  their  hearts.  He  lodges  the 
psaltery  in  their  bosoms,  and  plays  upon  the  hid- 
den chords  of  their  inmost  soul,  with  the  breath 
of  his  mouth.  He  lives  in  their  sighs  of  sorrow, 
and  in  their  shouts  of  joy :  in  their  longing 
plaints  of  love,  and  in  their  hymnings  of  praise : 
in  their  cries  at  the  cross,  and  in  their  exultation 
upon  that  delectable  hill,  where,  upon  their  fore- 
heads, they  find  themselves  sealed  with  the  Spirit 


WITH    THE    SONS    OF    MEN.  115 

unto  the  day  of  redemption.  In  every  breathing 
of  the  renewed  nature,  whether  it  be  of  a  groan 
or  an  hosanna:  in  every  act  of  homage,  and  in 
every  hailing  of  fioly  joy:  in  the  great  temple 
choir  of  the  waiting  church  militant,  who  all 
harmonize  in  that  one  ejaculation,  "  Amen,  even 
so,  come.  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly  !"  there,  even 
there  is  He,  the  liOrd  and  his  Spirit,  present,  as 
the  life  and  inspiration  of  all,  however  poorly  fit- 
ted such  persons  and  things  may  seem  for  pres- 
ence and  habitation  like  his. 

Such,  my  brethren,  is  something  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  His  delight  is  with  the  sons  of  men, 
and  such  is  his  rejoicing  in  the  habitable  part  of 
God's  earth.  Happy  are  the  people  who  have 
Him,  who  is  the  Wisdom  of  God,  Him,  who  is  the 
Lord  of  sabaoth,  thus  always  by  them,  rejoicing 
always  before  them,  and  delighting  in  them.  Let 
us  then  not  be  "  wise  in  our  own  eyes,  or  pru- 
dent in  our  own  sight,"  Isa.  v.  21 ;  "  for  it  is  " 
also  "  written,  I  will  destroy  the  wisdom  of  the 
wise,  and  will  bring  to  nothing  the  understand- 
ing of  the  prudent,"  1  Cor.  i.  19.  Let  us,  dear 
brethren,  be  converted,  and  become  as  little  chil- 
dren ;  humble  ourselves  as  a  little  child,  and  re- 
ceive the  kingdom  of  heaven  as  a  little  child, 
Matt.  xdii.  3,  4 ;  Luke  xviii.  17.  The  mind  of 
Immanuel,  God  with  us,  is  only  after  such ;  only 
among  such  children  does  he  delight  to  dwell. 
And  wherever  he  delights  to  dwell,  certainly  it 


116  wisdom's  delights,  (fee. 

is  good  to  be  there  ;  it  is  a  foretaste  of  heaven  in 
this  wilderness. 

O  Lord  Jesus,  appoint  over  us,  as  our  banner, 
that  love,  which  associates  thy  delights  with  the 
perishing  sons  of  men,  and  renders  thy  rejoicing 
here  with  poor  sinners  sweet  to  thee,  as  the  joys 
of  a  higher  and  far  better  world.     Amen, 


THE  NIGHT  VISION. 


Zechariah  i.  8- 

I  saw  by  night,  and  behold  a  man  riding  upon  a  red  horse, 
and  he  stood  among  the  myrtle  trees  that  were  in  the  bot- 
tom ;  and  behind  him  were  there  red  horses,  speckled,  and 
white- 

The  prophecies  of  Zechariah  contain  some 
of  the  most  deeply  interesting  and  cheering  re- 
velations that  ever  were  disclosed  under  the  Old 
Testament  dispensation.  This  prophet  much  re- 
sembles Ezekiel  in  his  fervour,  and  Isaiah  in  his 
sublime  imagery  and  mysterious  visions.  Like 
the  latter,  he  may  truly  be  styled  an  evangelical 
prophet.  The  Anointed  One  of  God  and  his 
kingdom,  are  the  centre  and  axis  about  which 
the  fiery  wheel  of  all  his  revelations  and  ima- 
gery turns.  The  vision  in  our  text  is  both 
beautiful  and  consoling.     Let  us  consider, 

I.  The  time  when  it  was  seen. 
II.  The  vision  itself,  with  its  spiritual 

IMPORT. 

'^^■^  I.  The  time  when  the  vision  was  seen  is  ex- 
pressed in  the  words  of  the  text.     '•  I  saw,"  saith 
10* 


118  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

the  prophet,  "  by  night."  Primarily  he  meant 
natural  night,  while  men  slept.  At  that  season 
the  Lord  came  to  him,  opening  the  prophet's 
spiritual  eyes,  and  causing  to  pass  before  him, 
like  a  pictured  scene  in  bright  and  glowing 
colours,  a  sublime  and  cheering  vision.  For 
it  seemed  good  unto  the  Holy  Ghost  to  attest  that 
important  truth,  that  "  the  Keeper  of  Israel  nei- 
ther slumbereth  nor  sleepeth,"  on  this  occasion, 
by  a  proof  of  fact,  to  render  it  the  more  impres- 
sive ;  for  which  purpose  he  comes  to  the  pro- 
phet in  the  darkness  of  the  night.  Nearly  all 
the  saints  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  have 
had  some  experience  of  such  nightly  visits  of 
God  ;  and  the  wise  Elihu  thus  speaks  of  them 
to  Job  as  a  thing  very  common  in  his  time  :  "  In 
a  dream,  in  a  vision  of  the  night,  when  deep 
sleep  falleth  upon  men,  in  slumberings  upon  the 
bed  ;  then  he  openeth  the  ears  of  men,  and  seal- 
eth  their  instruction,  that  he  may  withdraw  man 
from  his  purpose,  and  hide  pride  from  man," 
Job  xxxiii.  15 — 17.  Many  have  experienced 
the  truth  of  this,  and,  like  Nicodemus,  have  become 
acquainted  with  Jesus  by  night.  At  that  season, 
when  the  body  is  at  rest,  when  the  senses  are 
shut  up  by  darkness  and  silence,  and  withdrawn 
from  the  turmoil  of  day-light  distractions,  then 
is  the  soul's  hearing  more  acute  ;  the  thoughts 
proceed  with  less  restraint,  and  unimpeded  medi- 
tation dives  deeper  into  the  truth  of  things. 
Then  does  the  trumpet  of  the  Divine  word  peal 


THE    NIGHT    VISION.  119 

with  redoubled  force  in  the  ear  of  conscience  ; 
the  thunder  of  its  maledictions  is  appalling  ;  and 
the    alarms  raised  by  the  inward  accuser   are 
more  awakening  and  terrible.     And  when  the 
clear  vision  of  our  sins,  of  our  vain  and  erring 
life,  of  our  broken  vows  and  resolutions,  of  our 
impurity  and  hypocrisy  ;  the  clear  prospect  of 
death  that  awaits  us,  with  the  certainty  of  a  judg- 
ment to  come,  to  which  we  are  every  day  draw- 
ing nearer  and  nearer  ;  the  clear  view  of  the  suf- 
ferings of  that  Saviour  whom  we  have  betrayed 
and  crucified    afresh  :    when  visions    such  as 
these  break  in  upon  our  retirement,  haunt  us  in 
our  beds,  and    fix  themselves  before   the   eyes 
of  our  minds— then  do  we  feel  strong  discipline 
applied  to  us,  and  a  powerful  kind  of  instruction 
sealed  to  us  by  the  Almighty.     And  whither  at 
such  seasons  can  we  flee  to  escape  it  ?     Into  the 
company  of  mirthful  friends  and  acquaintance  7 
They,  too,   are  in  their  beds,  and  fast  asleep. 
Into  the  avocations  and  bustle  of  business?     Its 
doors  are  closed  for  the  night.     Into  the  streets 
or  market-place,  among  the  throng  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood?    The  streets  are  void,  and  the  mar- 
ket-place is  silent.     It  is  night ;  and  there  is  no- 
thing at  hand  wherewith  to  deafen  the  ear,  veil 
the  mental  eye,  and  drive  away  serious  thought. 
Then  is   the  soul  troubled ;  it  is  tossed  like  a 
vessel  on  the  stormy  waves  ;  its  anchor  is  cast 
this  way  and  that  way,  but  finds  no  hold.     The 
troubled  sinner  looks  out  for  a  haven,  but  every 


120  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

thing  like  it  is  tempestuous  as  the  open  sea ; 
and  he  seems  rocked  over  an  abyss.  He  would 
gladly  charm  away  the  storm  within  him  ;  he 
endeavors  to  rally  his  day-light  thoughts,  and  to 
reason  with  himself,  saying,  Whyshould  I  be 
troubled  ?  there  is  no  real  dan2:er.  But  it  is  all 
to  no  purpose.  Consolation  has  no  place  within 
him ;  his  uneasiness  only  increases  the  more ; 
till  he  finds  Him\Y\\o  can  say,  "  Peace,  be  still  !" 
and  who  spreadeth  forth  his  hands  in  the  midst 
of  us,  Isa.  XXV.  11.  Numberless  Christians  have 
at  one  time  or  another  experienced  those  awful 
and  terrible,  but  salutary  and  beneficial  night 
scenes  ;  and  can  say  after  the  manner  of  Eli- 
phaz  the  Temanite,  "  In  thoughts  from  the  vis- 
ions of  the  night,  when  deep  sleep  falleth  on 
men,  fear  came  upon  me,  and  trembling,  which 
made  all  my  bones  to  shake,"  Job  iv.  13,  14.  O 
ye  who  in  the  day-time,  amidst  the  noise  of  this 
world,  neglect  to  hear  the  voice  of  God,  may  you 
in  such  nightly  visitations  of  the  Almighty  soon 
be  favoured  to  hear  him  speaking  to  you  more 
forcibly  and  intelligibly  !  Let  this  night,  rather 
than  that  of  to-morrow,  be  preferred  for  serious 
meditation  ;  "  If  thou  save  not  thy  life  to  night, 
to-morrow  thou  shalt  be  slain,"  1  Sam.  xix.  11. 
Lay  such  a  thought  to  heart,  when  you  again 
lay  down  to  rest. 

"  I  saw  hy  nightj''  saith  the  prophet ;  and 
these  words  may  remind  us  of  the  circumstances 
of  the    time  at   which  the   vision  was  given. 


THE    NIGHT    VISION.  121 

Zechariah     prophesied     about    five     hundred 
years  before  the  birth  of  Christ.     He  had  Uved 
with  his  parents  in  the  captivity  of  Babylon  ; 
but  after  the  friendly  edict  of  Cyrus,  king  of 
Persia,  he  returned  with  the  first  company  under 
Zerubbabel  to  the  country  of  his  fathers,  and  as- 
sisted at  the  rebuilding  of  the  holy  city  and  its 
temple.     Then  was  a  time  of  great  joy  and  ju- 
bilant expectation.     God,  who  remembered  his 
covenant  with  their  fathers,  had  again  decidedly 
appeared  for  his  people  Israel  ;  and  all  seemed 
raised  by  the  cheering  hope  of  golden  days  at 
hand.     Then  was  it  not  night,  but  bright  day  in 
Israel ;  nevertheless,  the  glory  was  of  short  du- 
ration, for  the  men  of  Samaria  brought  a  dark 
cloud  upon  it.     Hardly  had  the  rebuilding  of 
Jerusalem  and  the  temple  with  gladness  and 
great  zeal  .commenced,  when  these  strangers, 
who  were  rather  heathens  than  Jews,  but  who 
wished  to  share  an  equal  right  to  the  common 
worship  of  the  temple,  offered  to  assist  them  in 
the  work.     This  offer  was  necessarily  refused  ; 
and  the  refusal  stirred  up  ill  blood.     The  men 
of  Samaria  sent  an  address  to  the  court  of  Persia, 
bitterly  calumniating  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusa- 
lem, as  a  disloyal  and  seditious  race ;   and  gain- 
ed  credit    to  their   misrepresentations.     Hence 
ensued  a  royal  edict,  prohibiting  the  building  of 
the  city  and  temple,  and  licensing  the  intruders 
of  Samaria  to  obstruct  the  work  with  fire  and 
sword  ;  so  that   it  was  a  time  of  trouble  and 


122  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

tumult,  a  time  of  sore  distress  and  dejection. 
God  seemed  again  to  have  forsaken  his  people, 
for  their  fairest  prospects  were  suddenly  dark- 
ened, as  if  the  loveliest  morning  had  been  over- 
cast with  midnight  gloom.  Here  then  is  "  the 
night"  wherein  Zechariah  saw  the  vision. 
The  gloom  of  that  night  encompassed  him,  and 
had  entered  his  very  soul ;  for  every  thfng 
at  present  tended  to  fill  the  minds  of  God's  peo- 
ple with  doubt  and  despondency.  They  could 
no  longer  discern  Him  near  to  them,  as  Israel's 
protector. 

"  I  saw  by  night,  and  behold  !"  saith  Zecha- 
riah. Let  us  apply  these  words,  by  way  of  ac- 
commodation, to  the  spiritual  night  of  Christians. 
For  night  in  a  spiritual  sense  is  only  dreadful, 
when  we  are  deprived  of  spiritual  vision,  when 
the  eyes  of  the  understanding  are  darkened.  It 
is  night,  when  with  sufferings  upon  us,  we  do 
not  recognise  the  Hand  that  inflicts  them.  It  is 
night,  when  we  find  ourselves  in  a  wilderness  of 
perplexity,  where  we  can  discern  no  way  out  in 
any  direction.  It  is  night,  when  a  curse  seems 
to  destroy  our  temporal  prosperity,  and  we  can- 
not perceive,  whence  proceeds  that  which  is  de- 
priving us  of  our  honour  and  credit,  our  welfare 
and  family  peace  ;  whether  it  is  from  heaven 
above,  or  from  hell  beneath,  or  from  incidental 
circumstances  around  us.  It  is  night,  when  from 
the  world  calumniating  and  mistaken  us,  we  ap- 
peal to  God,  but  there  is  "  neither  voice,  nor  any 


THE    NIGHT    VISION.  123 

to  answer,  nor  any  that  regardeth."  It  is  night, 
when,  having  sunk  into  the  depths  of  distress,  we 
cry  out  of  pain  and  anguish,  but  imagine  that 
our  cry  is  lost  in  the  air,  and  that  our  prayer  is 
altogether  ineffectual,  because  no  help  seems  rea- 
dy at  hand,  no  footsteps  of  relief  are  audible,  no 
prospect  dawns,  no  opening  is  given  ;  but  our 
way  through  the  dark  valley  remains  to  us  an 
inexplicable  mystery,  with  regard  to  which  we 
cannot  guess  what  end  is  to  be  answered,  or 
what  will  be  its  issue.  In  such  cases,  night  may 
be  said  to  have  overtaken  us ;  for  the  great  Light 
which  makes  and  rules  the  day,  is  gone  down 
out  of  sight,  and  we  are  in  the  situation  describ- 
ed by  Job,  who  speaks  of  himself  as  "  the  man 
whose  way  is  hid,  and  God  hath  hedged  him 
in,"  Job  iii.  23.  Nevertheless,  "unto  the  up- 
right there  ariseth  light  in  the  darkness,"  Psa. 
cxii.  4.  This  was  the  case  with  Job  himself; 
for  in  due  time  the  meaning  and  salutary  "end 
of  the  Lord"  were  shown  to  him,  James  v.  11. 
This  was  the  case  with  Hagar  ;  for  the  angel 
surprised  her  by  a  well  of  water  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  opened  her  eyes  to  behold  it.  Gen  xxi. 
17,  19.  Likewise  with  Abraham  ;  for  the  Angel 
Jehovah  "called  unto  him  out  of  heaven,  and 
said.  Lay  not  thine  hand  upon  the  lad,  neither  do 
thou  any  thing  unto  him,"  Gen.  xxii.  11, 12,  and 
his  great  trial  was  immediately  at  an  end.  Like- 
wise with  Jacob ;  for  the  Lord  blessed  him  in 
that  night  of  severe  conflict,  and  gave  him  the 


124  THE    NIGHT   VISION. 

name  of  Israel,  a  prince  with  God,  saying,  "  As 
a  prince  hast  thou  power  with  God  and  with  men, 
and  hast  prevailed,"  Gen.  xxxiii.  28.  Similar  is 
the  experience  of  Christians  at  present,  and  1 
may  say,  of  many  amongst  us.  For  have  you 
not  been  surprised  with  help  and  deliverance,  as 
with  the  suddenness  of  lightning  ?  Has  not  a 
blessing  often  entered  the  house  like  an  unex- 
pected guest  ?  Has  not  gloom  often  disappeared 
as  fast  as  vapour  that  just  now  girded  the  hills  j 
and  has  not  light  poured  in  upon  you  quickly, 
and  shown  you  why  God  led  you  thus  ? 

And  yet,  my  brethren,  this  is  not  properly  a 
seeing  by  night ;  for  we  here  imply  the  return 
of  sunshine,  or  at  least  the  breaking  of  dawn  into 
the  cave  Adullam  ;  we  here  imply  that  God  has 
again  permitted  himself  to  be  spiritually  seen  and 
felt,  so  that  the  soul  cannot  but  cry  out,  "  Thou 
hast  turned  my  darkness  into  day."  But  when 
our  heaven  still  abides  clothed  in  blackness,  and 
God's  paths  are  untraceable  in  the  deep  waters ; 
when  the  poor  soul  is  obliged  to  cling  blindly  to 
that  rock  on  which  it  is  written,  "All  his  works 
are  faithful,"  and  rests  with  implicit  faith  on  that 
word,  "  What  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now,  but 
thou  shalt  know  hereafter  ;"  when  believing 
against  belief,  and  hoping  against  hope,  it  stays 
itself  upon  Him,  because  he  saith,  "  Cast  all  thy 
care  on  me,  for  I  care  for  thee ;"  "  when  thou 
passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee  ; 
and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow 


THE    NIGHT    VISION.  125 

thee  :  when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou 
shall  not  be  burned  ;  neither  shall  the  flame  kin- 
dle upon  thee  :  for  1  am  the  Lord  thy  God  ;  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy  Saviour  ;  fear  not,  for  I 
am  with  thee,"  Isa.  xliii.  2,5; — when  we  lay 
hold  of  such  promises  as  these,  and  make  them 
our  rampart,  setting  before  our  inward  eye  the 
same  Lord  who  said  to  Manoah,  "Why  askest 
thou  after  my  name,  seeing  it  is  '^j^Jb,  Wonderful  /" 
Judg.  xiii.  18,  and  from  this  one  attribute  derive 
milk  and  honey  in  the  desert ;  or  when,  without 
seeing,  tasting,  or  feeling,  we  comfort  ourselves 
with  the  remembrance  that  we  are  under  the  care 
of  the  same  God,  who  delivered  Daniel  from  the 
mouths  of  the  lions  ;  the  same  God  who  could 
preserve  his  three  servants  in  the  midst  of  the 
burning  fiery  furnace  ;  who  commanded  a  fish 
to  serve  as  an  ark  to  Jonah  in  the  depths  of  the 
sea,  and  commissioned  the  ravens  to  feed  Elijah 
morning  and  evening  in  the  wilderness ;  then, 
with  whatever  lack  of  light  and  comfort,  we  can 
trust  and  stay  ourselves  on  such  a  God  as  this  : — 
then  have  we  learnt  the  blessed  art  of  seeing  in 
darkness,  and  of  discovering  the  sun  itself  be- 
hind the  thick  cloud  ;  then  may  we  take  up  the 
prophet's  parable,  and  say,  "  I  saw  by  night,  and 
behold  !" 

But  there  is  another  kind  of  spiritual  night 

more  fearful  still.     David  feared  it  when  he  said, 

"  Hide  not  thy  face  from  me,  lest  I  be  like  unto 

them  that  go  down  into  the  pit,"  Psa.  cxliii.  7. 

11 


126  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

Yet  even  here  there  may  be  vision  in  the  midst 
of  darkness,  and  this  is  a  favour  indeed.  When 
the  adversary  assails  me  with  unholy  sugges- 
tions, or  with  unbelieving  doubts  and  fears,  and 
no  deliverance  is  felt,  then  indeed  it  is  night 
about  me,  and  the  sun  is  far  below  my  horizon. 
Yet,  lo.  there  occurs  to  me  the  thought  of  Him 
in  whom  is  fulfilled  the  prediction,  "  O  death,  1 
will  be  thy  pestilence  ;  O  hades,  I  will  be  thine 
utter  destruction,"  Hos.  xiii.  14;  and  there  is 
brought  home  to  me  that  other  mighty  truth,  that 
in  Him  I  have  already  "  overcome  the  wicked 
one,"  1  John  ii.  14,  so  that  he  cannot  essentially 
injure  me.  Thus  it  is  given  me  as  trusting  all 
to  the  care  of  Him  who  is  my  triumphant  Head, 
to  "  glorify  God  in  the  fires,"  to  be  quiet  in  the 
midst  of  unquietness  ;  and  what  else  is  this  but 
bright  vision  in  the  midst  of  darkness  7  "I  saw 
by  night,  and  behold  !" 

When  from  a  grievous  falling  away,  my  soul 
awakes  in  terror;  when  despair  is  almost  look- 
ing me  in  the  face,  and  suggesting  to  me,  as  to 
Cain,  that  "  my  iniquity  is  too  great  to  be  for- 
f^  given,"*  Gen.  iv.  1;  then  truly  ami  sitting  in 
darkness,  and  on  me  is  no  light  shining.  But 
all  at  once  I  remember  the  everlasting  Father, 
who  drew  Solomon  out  of  the  deepest  mire,  and 
thus  still  verified  the  name  he  had  freely  given 

*  This  is  the  Lutheran  rendering  of  i^iiz3S>3  I3i:s>  ^1^5  and 
seems  to  be  the  best. — Translator. 


THE    NIGHT    VISION.  127 

him  in  his  cradle,  the  name  "  Jedidiah^  *  be- 
cause of  the  Lord,"  2  Sam.  xii.  24, 2.5  ;  and  more 
than  this,  there  is  brought  to  my  remembrance 
the  Good  Shepherd,  who  left  the  ninety  and  nine 
in  the  wilderness,  that  he  might  go  and  seek  the 
one  sheep  which  had  gone  astray  ;  and  when  he 
had  found  it,  he  bore  it  home  on  his  shoulders 
rejoicing.  These  blessed  recollections  at  such  a 
season  are  greteful  indeed  ;  and  though  I  cannot 
yet  feel  that  the  Lord  is  with  me,  neither  can 
shout  with  joy  that  I  "  have  obtained  mercy," 
but  my  soul  still  waits  with  ^trembling  ;  never- 
theless, some  encouragement  of  hope  has  return- 
ed to  me :  "I  saw  by  night,  and  behold  !  be- 
hold 1" 

When  the  blessed  belief,  that  "  God  divelleth 
in  MS  J  and  lue  in  God^^  is  not  realized ;  when 
what  is  His  seems  gone  from  me,  and  what  is 
mine  and  sinful,  only  remains  ;  when  the  activ- 
ity of  my  spiritual  life  seems  suddenly  at  an  end, 
and  I  can  no  longer  behold  within  me  the  evi- 
dences of  grace  ;  when  the  faith  that  heretofore 
could  shout  for  joy,  is  shrunk  into  one  poor  and 
forced  sigh,  "  Lord,  rebuke  me  not  in  thy  wrath, 
neither  chasten  me  in  thy  hot  displeasure ;" 
when  love  is  cold,  and  the  unhappy  soul  cries 
out  with  David,  "  I  am  like  unto  them  that  lie 
in  the  grave,"  and  can  no  longer  think  of  having 
a  portion  in  Judah  ;  when,  by  and  by,  sin  can  be 

*  (T^T^T^    ^^  Beloved  of  the  Lord,''^ 


128  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

committed  without  tears  of  sorrow  ;  and  stumb- 
ling, without  real  contrition  ;  when  reading  the 
Scriptures  brings  no  enjoymentj  and  praying  has 
no  fervency  in  it, — oh,  this  is  a  night  of  dark- 
ness !  Still,  even  in  such  night  there  is  seeing 
by  faith,  which  will  not  be  thwarted  by  our  pov- 
erty of  feeling,  neither  owes  its  life  to  taste  and 
relish.  He  who  is  -^  The  Amen,"  has  in  such  a 
time  of  deadness  visited  us  in  the  glory  of  his 
faithfulness  and  truth,  so  that  in  spirit  we  could 
hear  him  say,  "  The  mountains  shall  depart,  and 
the  hills  be  removed ;  but  my  kindness  shall  not 
depart  from  thee,  neither  shall  the  covenant 
of  my  peace  be  removed,  saith  the  Lord  that 
hath  mercy  on  thee,"  Isa.  liv.  10.  Thus  we  ob- 
tain more  than  a  glimpse  of  "  Him  who  justifieth 
the  ungodly,"  and  who  calls  only  for  empty  ves- 
sels, that  he  may  fill  them  with  his  glory.  Thus 
is  opened  to  us  the  mystery  of  that  justification 
which  comes  not  from  any  thing  in  us,  but  by 
the  love,  prayers,  and  intercession  of  Jesus  ;  and 
though  I  seem  to  feel,  taste,  and  see  nothing,  and 
my  heart  within  me  is  desolate,  yet  I  am  per- 
mitted to  cast  myself  in  simple  faith  upon  the  Lord, 
who  hath  said,  "  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee !" 
And  thus  is  the  night  overpowered ;  not  so  in- 
deed, as  that  the  sun  itself  has  peered  down  upon 
me  through  the  dark  cloud,  and  thrown  its  beams 
sensibly  into  my  soul ;  but  that  my  faith  never- 
theless has  stretched  itself  forth,  and  found  its 
WSLY  through  the  dark  veil,  so  as  to  commune 


THE    NIGHT    VISION.  129 

with  the  sun  behind  the  cloud.  When  such 
visions  in  darkness  have  been  vouchsafed  to  the 
servants  of  the  Lord,  they  can  exultingly  say,  "  I 
saw  by  night,  and  behold  !  behold  !" 

II.     But  what  did  the  prophet  Zecha- 

RIAH  behold  ? 

It  was  a  precious  vision.  It  stood  still,  im- 
movable before  the  eyes  of  his  delighted  mind, 
like  a  picture  in  wonderful  freshness  of  colour- 
ing. Afterwards  he  hears  the  explanation  of  it; 
though  the  vision  spoke  for  itself — "good  words 
and  comfortable  words."  The  vision  was  frauarht 
with  consolation  and  promise ;  and  as  it  is  suit- 
ed to  our  condition  also,  let  us  consider  it  more 
attentively.  Zechariah  beholds  "  a  man  ;"  and 
it  clearly  appears  in  the  sequel,  that  the  man  is 
Christ,  the  Angel  of  the  covenant.  The  Lord 
makes  himself  known  in  a  variety  of  characters, 
and  becomes  to  his  children  whatever  their  par- 
ticular circumstances  require  him  to  be.  Are 
we  weak  and  faint-hearted  ?  He  discovers  to  us 
his  tender  love,  as  more  than  that  of  a  mother, 
saying,  ''  Can  a  woman  forget  her  sucking  child  ? 
As  one  whom  his  mother  comforteth,  so  will  I 
comfort  thee."  Have  we  missed  the  direct  path  1 
He  meets  us  as  the  Good  Shepherd  with  his  pas- 
toral staff,  saying,  "  I  will  bring  back  that  which 
is  gone  astray."  Is  any  sick?  He  manifests 
himself  with  his  seasonable  oil  and  wine,  saying, 
11* 


130  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

^'  I  am  the  Lord  that  healeth  thee."  Is  any  dis- 
pirited and  terrified  ?  He  immediately  stands 
over  ao:ainst  him  with  his  sword  drawn  in  his 
hand,  saying,  "  Nay,  but  as  Captain  of  the  Lord's 
host  am  I  now  come."  Does  any  one  feel  the 
wrath  of  God  in  his  soul !  The  King  of  kings 
and  Lord  of  lords  manifests  himself  to  us  as 
red  in  his  apparel,  saying,  "  I  tread  the  \vinepress 
ALONE,"  Isa.  3,  "  the  winepress  of  the  fierceness 
and  WRATH  of  Almighty  God,"  Rev.  xix.  15. 
Are  we  in  bondage  and  captivity  ?  He  appears 
to  us  as  the  breaker  of  all  bonds  and  bars,  say- 
ing, "  I  have  the  keys  of  hades  and  of  death." 

Now  the  times  or  Zechariah  needed  a  helper 
in  the  character  of  a  man,  and  a  "  man  of  war," 
Exod.  XV.  3,  for  it  was  a  season  of  war  and  tu- 
mults; and  lo,  the  Keeper  of  Israel  manifests 
himself  in  this  character;  "  I  saw  by  night,  and 
behold  a  man !"  Christ,  a  man !  This  very 
word  is  full  of  comfort.  Therefore  let  the  prophet 
by  this  word  remind  us,  that  our  God  is  also 
man  :  that  the  Lord  of  lords  is  our  Brother. 
Christ,  a  man  !  Let  it  remind  us  that  He  is  the 
Husband  of  the  spiritual  church,  whereof  we  are 
members.  "  Thy  Maker  is  thine  Husband,  the 
Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name  ;  and  thy  Redeemer 
the  Holy  One  of  Israel,"  Isa.  liv.  5.  And  as  the 
wife  receives  and  bears  the  name  of  her  husband, 
so  do  we  receive  and  bear  that  "new  name" 
of  Christ  our  Saviour.  Having  lost  our  own 
name  for  ever,  we  bear  his  name,  and  wear  his 


THE    NIGHT    VISION.  131 

marriage  ring.  Luke  xv.  22,  with  his  seal,  to 
remind  us  that  "  he  abideth  faithful,"  and  that 
as  "  he  cannot  deny  himself,"  so  he  will  not 
deny  or  disown  us.  Christ,  a  man!  He  is 
therefore  "  the  Desire  of  all  nations."  For  it  is 
as  man  that  we  are  so  interested  to  behold  him ; 
as  man  he  lives  in  our  thoughts ;  as  man  he  stands 
before  us^  when  we  pray  to  him ;  and  hereby  we 
pray  with  confidence.  What  truth  can  be  more 
consoling,  than  that  ^'he  was  loounded  for  our 
transgressions,  he  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities  ; 
that  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  him  ; 
and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed  ?"  Isa.  liii.  5. 
In  this  respect  he  is  to  us  the  Rose  of  Sharon, 
from  which  all  our  spiritual  sweetness  is  drawn. 
He  is  the  Fountain  of  the  water  of  life,  from 
which  flow  our  rivers  of  peace.  The  wounds 
he  received  for  our  healing,  will  never  be  forgot- 
ten in  the  heavenly  world  ;  neither  let  us  forget 
them,  day  or  night.  But  the  Deity  received 
them  not ;  it  was  the  man.  Cheering  then  is 
our  vision,  when  in  any  night  of  affliction  we 
can  "behold"  this  "  man  !" 

Zechariah  beholds  him  upon  a  red  horse. 
Christ  governs  and  guides  his  spiritual  church, 
and  thus  makes  them  "as  his  goodly  horse  in  the 
batde,"  Zech.  x.  3.  And  the  true  members  of 
his  church  are  guided  by  his  Spirit  as  with  a 
bridle;  they  are  curbed  and  governed  by  his 
word,  and  b^  them  he  goeth  forth,  conquering 
and  to  conquer.  Many  of  them  have  once  panted 


132  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

under  the  yoke  of  the  law.  "  Judah  shall  plough, 
and  Jacob  shall  break  his  clods,"  Hos.  x.  11. 
But  this  has  been  only  to  subdue  the  stubborn- 
ness of  their  corrupt  nature,  and  to  make  them 
the  more  sensible  of  his  gentle  government. 

Christ,  also,  like  the  man  riding  upon  a  horse, 
stands  ready  to  fly  with  speed  to  the  help  and 
defence  of  his  people.  In  the  days  of  his  flesh, 
when  he  walked  in  humiliation  upon  our  earth, 
one  person  had  to  wait  till  another  had  been  as- 
sisted by  him ;  and  then  was  the  complaint  af- 
fectingly  uttered,  "  Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here, 
my  brother  had  not  died,"  John  xi.  21.  But 
now  the  case  is  altered.  After  his  resurrection, 
it  might  be  said  of  him,  "  Behold,  my  Beloved 
Cometh,  like  a  roe  or  a  young  hart,  leaping  upon 
the  mountains,  skipping  upon  the  hills.  Behold, 
he  standeth  behind  our  wall,  he  looketh  through 
the  windows,  glistening  through  the  lattice," 
Sol.  Song  ii.  9.  Wherever  he  has  been  wanted, 
there  has  he  appeared,  by  day  or  by  night ;  and 
even  though  the  doors  were  shut  for  fear  of  the 
enemy,  he  has  stood  in  the  midst,  saying,  "  Peace 
be  unto  you."  How  often  have  we  experienced 
this,  temporally  as  well  as  spirtually  !  When  we 
have  been  apt  to  think  him  farthest  from  us,  he 
has  knocked  at  our  door, his  light  has  sprung  up 
in  our  tabernacle,  and  we  have  been  unexpectedly 
constrained  to  glory  in  tribulations  ;  so  that  we 
might  well  say  with  Habakkuk,  iii.  8, "  Thou  didst 
ride  upon  thine  horses,  and  thy  chariots  of  salva- 


THE    NIGHT   VISION.  133 

tioii."  In  this  manner  can  Christ  at  one  and  the 
same  moment  be  with  all  his  people  ;  and  return 
to  all  the  thousands  of  Israel,  however  widely  they 
may  be  scattered  abroad  ;  for  He  rideth  upon  the 
heavens  as  upon  a  horse,  and  ready  indeed  is  his 
help,  for  it  is  omnipresent.  As  the  horse  whereon 
the  man  sat  was  red,  so  the  Lord  himself  is  "red 
in  his  apparel  ;"  that  is,  he  has  bled  for  the  trans- 
gressors, and  therefore  may  well  be  regarded  as 
always  mindful  of  his  redeemed.  Hosanna  to 
Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  red  horse,  and  is  red 
in  his  apparel ! 

The  prophet  further  speaks  of  the  myrtle 
trees.  True  believers  are  trees  which  Christ 
himself  hath  planted ;  trees  of  righteousness,  fast 
rooted  in  the  ground  of  his  merits,  and  thriving 
by  the  grace  of  his  Holy  Spirit.  Such  are  all 
the  children  of  God  here  on  earth.  As  branches 
of  myrtle  were  anciently  distributed  to  guests 
as  an  invitation  to  joy  and  gladness  of  heart,  so 
are  these  spiritual  myrtles  committed  to  the  an- 
gels of  God,  for  the  increase  of  their  ''joy  in 
heaven."  As,  at  the  marriage  festivals  of  the 
Israelites,  green  myrtles  were  carried  before  the 
bridegroom,  accompanied  with  cheerful  pious 
songs,  so  does  our  heavenly  Bridegroom  rejoice 
over  his  myrtle  trees,  or  people,  on  earth,  and 
names  his  church  Hephzibah,  '■'- My  delight  is 
hi  her  f^  and  her  land  Beulah,  the  ^^  married 
bride ;"  for  the  Lord  delighteth  in  her,  and  her 
land  is  "  God's  husbandry,"  Isa.  Ixii.  4  ;  1  Cor. 


134  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

iii.  9.  And  where  grew  the  myrtle  trees  which 
Zechariah  saw?  The  man  "stood  among  the 
myrtle  trees  that  were  in  the  bottom,"  that  is,  in 
low  ground,  where  they  always  thrive  best. 
The  lower  their  situation,  the  greener  is  their  leaf, 
the  more  full  of  sap  is  their  stem,  and  the  more 
grateful  their  fragrance.  Most  true  is  this  of  all 
the  elect  people  of  God.  His  trees  would  wither 
on  hills  ;  on  those  hills  which  stand  in  contrast 
to  humility  and  poverty  of  spirit.  The  mem- 
bers of  his  true  church  thrive  only  in  self-abase- 
ment and  self-renunciation. 

The  man  among  the  myrtle  trees  ^-  stoocl,''^ 
saith  the  prophet.  The  Lord  abides  among  his 
people  ;  as  it  is  written,  "  I  dwell  with  him  that  is 
poor,  and  of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  trembleth  at  my 
word,"  Isa.  Ixvi.  2.  "  The  Lord  thy  God  is  in 
the  7?iidst  of  thee,  the  Mighty  One,  who  will 
save  ;  he  hath  exceeding  great  joy  in  thee  ;  he 
will  rest  in  his  love,  he  will  joy  over  thee  with 
singing,"  Zeph.  iii.  17.  Next,  we  notice  behind 
him  a  motley  squadron  of  red,  speckled,  and 
white  horses.  What  are  these  ?  Are  they  the 
"  Mahanaim,^^  those  mighty  ones  that  excel  in 
strength,  who  are  sent  forth  to  minister  unto 
those  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  ?  Or,  are 
they  the  manifold  perfections  of  God,  which  come 
forth  to  serve  us  ;  His  grace.  His  truth,  His  mercy, 
His  omnipotence  ?  Or,  are  they  the  sure  promises 
which  carry  us  as  upon  horses,  through  depths 
and  over  mountains,  and  speed  us  without  fear 


THE    NIGHT   VISION.  135 

through  the  darkest  and  saddest  nights  ?  Wher- 
ever the  heavenly  Rider  is,  let  us  remember  that 
there  also  is  a  squadron  about  him  ;  there  a  whole 
host  of  pleasing  strangers  and  welcome  guests 
exult  behind  him  :  but  our  house  and  heart  are 
too  narrow  for  them  all. 

Such  is  the  vision  which  was  shown  to 
Zechariah  by  night,  for  his  comfort  concerning 
Jerusalem.  Brethren,  the  vision  is  true.  For 
thus  He  stations  himself  and  abides  in  the  midst 
of  us,  as  a  man  upon  a  red  horse,  among  the 
myrtle  trees  in  the  bottom  ;  and  behind  him,  red, 
speckled,  and  white  horses.  Think,  brethren, 
then,  upon  this  mighty  and  holy  One  of  God, 
when  you  rest  by  night  upon  your  beds  j  when 
cares  or  fears  steal  upon  you  ;  when  Satan  ejects 
his  darts :  think  upon  him  in  the  day  time, 
whenever  your  outward  way  is  dark  and  gloomy, 
or  whenever  it  is  dark  xvithin  you.  When  you 
have  lost  the  sight  and  relish  of  every  thing,  open 
the  eyes  of  your  faith,  for  certainly  in  these  days 
when  many  of  Christ's  children  amongst  us  are 
troubled,  and  filled  with  anxieties,  he  will  be 
neither  slumbering  nor  indifferent,  but  will  come 
to  their  help  swiftly.  Be,  therefore,  of  good  cheer, 
and  perhaps  before  evening,  the  eyes  of  many  a 
distressed  soul  may  be  opened,  like  those  of 
Elisha's  servant,  to  behold  the  mountain  covered 
with  liorses  and  chariots  of  fire,  and  to  be 
constrained  to  cry  with  that  prophet  himself, 
"  My  father,  my  father,  the  chariot  of  Israel,  and 


136  THE    NIGHT    VISION. 

the  horsemen  thereof!"  2  Kings  ii.  12.  And 
even  should  it  not  be  so,  but  should  all  continue 
dark  for  a  time  about  us,  still  let  us  believe  and 
triumph  in  the  God  of  all  grace. 


SPIRITUAL  DECLENSION  AND 
RECOVERY. 


Hebrews  vi.4— 6, 

It  is  impossible  for  those  who  were  once  enlightened,  and  have 
tasted  of  the  heavenly  gift,  and  were  made  partakers  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  have  tasted  the  good  word  of  God,  and  the 
powers  of  the  world  to  come,  if  they  shall  fall  away,  to  re- 
new them  again  unto  repentance ;  seeing  they  crucify  to 
themselves  the  Son  of  God  afresh,  and  put  him  to  an  open 
shame. 

This  is  a  remarkable  sentence  of  Holy  Writ, 
about  which,  on  account  of  the  all-important  sub- 
ject to  which  it  refers,  the  minds  of  many  have 
been  greatly  perplexed.  Some  will  be  curious  to 
know  how  we  understand  these  words  of  the  in- 
spired apostle  ;  but  they  are  mistaken,  if  they 
think  we  have  selected  them  for  the  purpose  of 
displaying  our  own  wisdom.  Far  from  us  as 
ministers  of  Christ,  be  such  attempts,  which 
would  bring  upon  ourselves  the  just  rebuke  of 
God.  We  desire  not  to  furnish  new  matter  for 
dry  speculation  ;  much  less  to  add  fuel  to  the  fire 
of  controversy.  With  refined  speculation  the 
church  is  already  satiated ;  and  the  very  life  of 
12 


138  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

religion  is  in  many  Christian  communities  for- 
gotten for  the  sake  of  it.  Christendom  is  ah-eady 
enough  distracted  by  the  war  of  opinions.  Were 
we  to  turn  aside  to  these,  how  could  we  be  good 
ministers  of  Jesus  Christ,  or  stand  fast  in  the 
truth  ?  For  good  and  pleasant  is  it  to  dwell  to- 
gether in  unity.  But  as  the  words  before  us,  like 
all  other  words  of  God,  are  *'  profitable  for  doc- 
trine, for  reproof,  for  correction,  and  for  instruc- 
tion in  righteousness  ;"  and  as  they  appear  par- 
ticularly suitable  at  the  present  time,  when  many, 
having  evidently  backslidden,  are  conscious  that 
they  have  forgotten  the  covenant  of  their  God, 
and  would  be  glad  to  renew  it,  we  therefore 
choose  this  Scripture  for  our  consideration.  May 
it  appear  hereafter,  that  the  Lord  himself  brought 
it  to  our  attention.  I  shall  now  consider  three 
principal  particulars. 

I.  The  persons  spoken  of. 

II.  The  apostacy  of  which  they  are  ca- 
pable. 

III.  The  warning  which  is  given  them. 

I.  What  persons  has  the  apostle  here 
in  view? 

Are  they  children  of  God  ?  This  is  an  impor- 
tant inquiry,  which  has  often  heated  the  minds 
of  some,  and  made  others  anxious.  For  there 
are  those  who  maintain,  that  the  regenerate  can- 


AND    RECOVERY.  139 

not  be  the  persons  spoken  of,  but  only  those  who 
are  called  temporary  believers  ;  that  is,  such  as 
have  occasionally  had  good  impressions,  and 
have  formed  good  resolutions,  but  have  never  be- 
come truly  decided  ;  consequently  are  to  be  re- 
garded as  "  those  that  are  without."  This  opin- 
ion originated  in  a  fear  lest  one  of  the  most  vital 
and  consoling  doctrines  of  Scripture,  namely, 
that  of  the  indissolubleness  of  the  covenant  of 
free  grace,  should  be  impugned  by  any  misappli- 
cation of  these  words.  Whether  there  was  rea- 
son for  such  fear  or  not,  it  can  never  be  right  and 
according  to  truth,  to  wrest  the  word  of  God  into 
compliance  with  human  systems  ;  neither  is  this 
the  way  to  show  our  reverence  for  it.  God's 
word  must  always  dictate  to  us,  and  our  systems 
must  comply  with  it.  We  therefore  assume,  that 
the  passage  now  to  be  considered  refers  to  chil- 
dren of  God.  But  it  may  be  asked,  Can  these 
fall  from  grace  ?  Let  us  not  be  pre-oceupied  in 
our  judgment,  but  attend  to  one  thing  at  a  time  ; 
and  difficulties  will  melt  away  as  we  proceed. 
First  then,  let  us  see  what  proof  there  is,  that  the 
apostle  here  speaks  of  God's  own  children. 

He  enumerates  respecting  them  a  variety  of 
marks,  which  certainly  belong  to  real  Christians. 
And  while  we  are  examining  these  marks,  let 
us  examine  likewise  ourselves,  whether  we  bear 
upon  us  the  same  seals  of  the  true  Israel.  The 
first  of  these  is,  that  they  have  been  enlightened. 
As  there  are  various  kinds  of  enlightening  in  viS' 


140  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

ible  nature,  as  by  the  sun,  by  the  moon,  and  by 
lamps,  so  are  there  various  kinds  of  enlightening, 
relative  to  the  human  soul.  There  are  many 
persons  who  certainly  know  what  is  the  one  thing 
needful,  and  what  are  the  several  stages  on  the  road 
to  heaven  ;  but  they  know  it  only  from  human 
instruction,  and  have  their  light  at  second  or  third 
hand.  Theirs  is  a  moonlight,  which  neither 
warms  nor  fructifies  ;  neither  makes  that  which 
is  dead,  alive,  nor  that  which  is  withered,  green. 
Such  enlightening  we  may  have,  and  yet  be  as 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  God,  as  the  most  unen- 
lightened heathen.  There  are  others,  who  show 
that  they  partake  of  a  better  enlightening,  and 
even  of  a  kind  of  warmth  accompanying  it.  But 
they  are  excitable  persons,  who  are  easily  moved 
at  hearing  of  Christ,  and  the  experiences  of  his 
saving  grace,  and  become,  perhaps,  irresistibly 
convinced  that  such  things  are  true.  Thus  they 
are  found  warmly  disposed  to  honour  the  gospel, 
and  many  actually  relish^  in  some  degree,  those 
charming  truths  which  seem  to  overflow  in  the 
minds  of  others.  But  this  feeling  lasts  only  for 
a  little  while  ;  they  lose  all  relish  of  that  which 
is  spiritual,  as  soon  as  other  circumstances  bring 
back  other  impressions.  They  have  been  shined 
upon,  and  enlightened  by  the  lamps  of  the  wise 
virgins.  But  should  any  of  their  lamps  have 
burned  down,  or  their  oil  have  been  spent,  so  as 
to  yield  a  fainter  light,  or  those  who  carry  bright- 
er lamps  happen  to  have  withdrawn,  then  are 


AND   RECOVERY.  141 

those  persons  as  much  in  darkness  again  as  ever  ; 
and  this  because  they  have  not  cherished  the  true 
light  in  themselves.  Now,  neither  this,  nor  the 
former  class  of  persons,  does  the  Scripture  call 
enlightened.  It  gives  this  name,  not  to  those 
who  receive  their  light  at  second  or  third  hand, 
but  only  to  those  who  cherish  within  them  a 
light  which  is  received  immediately  from  Christ 
himself ;  to  those  of  whom  it  is  written,  "  Awake, 
thou  that  sleepest.  and  arise  from  the  dead,  and 
Christ  shall  give  thee  light."  And  this  lightper- 
vades  the  soul  and  spirit,  "  piercing  even  to  the 
dividing  asunder  of  the  joints  and  marrow,  and 
is  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the 
heart ;"  that  is,  it  is  a  light  which  discovers  to 
the  sinner  his  misery,  and  makes  him  feel  it :  as 
was  the  case  with  Saul  on  his  way  to  Damascus. 
It  is  a  light  which  conducts  not  only  into  doc- 
trine and  theory,  but  into  practice,  having  first 
loosened  the  tongue  to  cry  out,  "  What  must  I  do 
to  be  saved  ?"  It  is  a  light  which  makes  the  Sa- 
viour not  only  discernible,  but  infinitely  desira- 
ble and  precious  ;  so  that  men  call  upon  him, 
saying,  "  Thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  us." 
If  then  we  have  experienced  the  power  of  this 
light,  which  turns  the  world  within  us  upside 
down,  producing  both  in  our  inward  frame  and 
outward  conduct  a  radical  change,  so  that  we  are 
no  longer  cold  or  lukewarm,  but  fervent  inspirit, 
serving  the  Lord,  and  bring  forth  the  peaceable 
iiuit  of  righteousness,  love,  and  spiritual  life,-^ 
12* 


142  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

then,  and  only  then,  are  we,  according  to  Scrip- 
ture, enlightened.  And  if  we  have  been  thus  en- 
lightened, then  doubtless  we  are  children  of  God, 
and  born  of  the  Spirit. 

The  apostle  further  says,  they  "  have  tasted  of 
the  heavenly  gift ;"  which  is  another  exclusive 
characteristic  of  true  Israelites.  This  heavenly 
gift  is  no  other  than  that  spoken  of  by  our  Saviour, 
to  the  woman  of  Samaria  ;  "  If  thou  knewest  the 
gift  of  God  ;"  and  by  St.  Paul,  in  the  last  verse 
of  the  9th  chapter  of  his  2nd  Epistle  to  the  Cor- 
inthians, "  Thanks  be  unto  God  for  his  unspeak- 
able GIFT."  The  gift  then  is  Christ  himself;  and 
to  have  tasted  this  gift,  as  the  bread  winch  cometli 
down  from  heaven,  to  have  received  Christ  into 
the  heart  by  faith,  and  to  have  been  comforted 
by  it  with  the  delight  of  a  pardoned  sinner, — this 
is  a  thing  which  no  unconverted  person  can  have 
done.  I  will  not  deny  that  we  may  taste  and 
relish  something  relating  to  Christ ;  we  may 
receive  some  precious  saying  of  his  with  a  certain 
degree  of  pleasure  ;  some  excellent  doing  of  his 
may  have  cheeringly  affected  us  ;  the  gracious- 
nessof  his  Divine  character  may  have  excited  our 
admiration  and  emotions  of  delight,  without  our 
having  been  converted,  and  become  as  little  chil- 
dren. But  to  have  tasted  the  heavenly  gift,  even 
Christ  himself,  as  being  what  he  really  is,  the 
Reconciler  and  Friend  of  penitent  sinners ;  to 
have  tasted  that  the  Lord  is  gracious,  as  our 
remedy  against  sin  and  death,  and  as  the  nurture 


AND    RECOVERY.  143 

of  our  spiritual  and  everlasting  life, — this  none  of 
us  are  capable  of,  except  we  are  born  of  God  ;  for 
it  presupposes  a  sense  of  our  poverty  and  neces- 
sity, a  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  and 
much  more  besides,  which  can  belong  only  to  a 
participation  of"  the  Divine  nature,"  2  Pet.  i.  4. 

Another  mark  attributed  to  them  is,  that  they 
have  been  ^^made  partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;" 
and  this  surely  will  not  allow  us  to  remain  un- 
certain what  sort  of  persons  the  apostle  has  in 
view.  He  does  not  say,  that  the  Spirit  has  occa 
sionally  knocked  at  the  door  of  their  hearts,  or 
that  they  have  once  upon  a  time  been  stirred  by 
the  breath  of  God  ;  but  that  they  have  been  made 
partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  within  them  has  admonished,  judged,  re- 
buked, instructed,  and  comforted  them ;  has 
made  intercession  in  their  groans  ;  has  attuned 
their  songs  of  praise ;  has  led  the  battle  in  them 
against  the  flesh  ;  has  led  them  to  repentance  after 
every  fall ;  has  glorified  Christ  and  his  merit  in 
their  hearts.  Thus  have  they  been  made  to  drink 
of  the  new  and  spiritual  life.  Who  then  can 
doubt  that  they  are  children  of  God  ? 

And  that  we  might  know  that  they  have  re- 
ceived the  Spirit  of  God  as  an  earnest  of  their 
salvation,  it  is  added,  that  they  "  have  tasted  the 
good  word  of  GodP  This  sweet  expression 
clearly  intimates,  that  they  hare  experienced  the 
word  of  God  in  themselves  as  a  good  word  ;  as 
a  word  which  takes  the  most  kind  and  sympa- 


144  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

thetic  part  in  whatever  happens  to  us,  or  op- 
presses us  ;  as  a  word  that  has  upon  all  occa- 
sions, counsel  and  deliverance  for  us,  and  stands 
by  us  in  the  most  gracious  manner  with  its  light 
and  healing  balm.  Such  experience  as  this  of 
the  word  of  God,  can  belong  only  to  those  who 
have  come  into  actual  communion  with  the 
Holy  Ghost  the  Comforter,  who  dictated  and  in- 
spired the  word  itself;  who  expounds  and  seals 
its  truth  to  his  disciples;  who  knows  how  to 
educe  from  it  what  is  best  suited  to  them  at  all 
seasons,  and  how  to  apply  the  least  saying,  or 
historical  matter  of  it  to  our  edification,  joy,  con- 
solation, warning,  or  encouragement.  Blessed 
then  are  those  who  have  tasted  the  good  word  of 
God,  for  they  surely  must  belong  to  his  family. 

And  now  for  the  last  mark  :  they  "  have  tasted 
the  powers  of  the  ivorld  to  comeP  Understand  by 
this  expression  whatever  you  can  :  think  of  it  as 
implying  those  outpourings  of  grace  which  ena- 
ble us  to  overcome  the  world  and  death  ;  or,  as 
implying  a  lively  foretaste  of  eternal  joy,  a  trans- 
porting anticipation  of  perfect  bliss  in  heaven,  a 
delightful  hold  which  our  faith  has  already  upon 
things  to  come,  a  confidently  joyful  presenti- 
ment of  the  majestic  return  of  the  King  of  glory, 
a  powerful  assurance  of  the  final  consummation, 
and  of  our  being  "  ever  with  the  Lord  ;"  or,  as 
signifying  our  present  triumphant  elevation  upon 
the  wings  of  faith  above  time,  above  all  afliic- 
tions  and  crosses,  above  death,  judgment,  sin,  and 


AND    RECOVERY.  145 

hell ;  or,  understand  whatever  as  believers  you 
please  by  these  words, — this  you  must  allow, 
that  St.  Paul  could  have  had  only  children  of  God 
in  his  eye,  when  he  declares  of  them,  that  they 
"  have  tasted  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come." 
Would  to  God,  brethren,  that  all  of  you  who 
profess  and  call  yourselves  Christians,  were  able 
to  discern  these  marks  in  yourselves  !  Then  we 
could  rejoice  over  you,  and  say  of  you,  with  Ba- 
laam of  old,  "  How  goodly  are  thy  tents,  O  Jacob, 
and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel !  As  the  valleys 
are  they  spread  forth,  as  gardens  by  the  river 
side,  as  the  trees  of  lign-aloes,  which  Jehovah 
hath  planted,  and  as  cedar  trees  beside  the  wa- 
ters ;"  and  with  Moses,  "  Happy  art  thou,  O  Is- 
rael :  who  is  like  unto  thee,  O  people  saved  by 
the  Lord  1" 

II.     The  spiritual  declension  of  which 

THE  CHILDREN  OF  GOD  ARE  CAPABLE. 

St.  Paul  then,  speaking  of  children  of  God, 
and  even  of  such  as  have  gone  on  for  a  consider- 
able time  in  the  way  of  salvation,  and  have  at- 
tained maturity  of  growth  and  decision  of  char- 
acter, says,  ''Tjf  they  shall  fall  aivay^  Fall 
away  !  Yes,  brethren,  this  is  his  own  expression. 
Yet  who  can  forbear  shuddering  at  it?  Who 
should  not  here  be  afraid  ?  For  behold  an  abyss 
which  seemingly  threatens  to  swallow  up  the 
most  precious  truths  of  our  faith,  that  of  free  un- 


146 


SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 


merited  ^rrace,  and  those  which  relate  to  our 
everlasting  preservation  in  God's  hands.  Where 
then  is  our  most  blessed  and  cheering  comfort, 
where  is  our  Divine  peace  and  confidence  ?  For 
the  mere  thought  of  being  our  own  preservers, 
is  enough  to  destroy  all  these.  But  does  the 
apostle  speak  of  an  actual  falling  away  ?  Will 
not  the  word  bear  a  different  meanino^  ?  Cer- 
tainly  not !  neither  does  it  help  us  to  say,  that 
instead  of  asserting  the  possibility  of  falling 
away,  he  merely  supposes  the  case,  saying,  "  If 
they  fall  away."  Many,  indeed,  think  that  he 
considered  real  falling  away  as  a  thing  impossi- 
ble:  but  such  an  opinion  appears  groundless; 
for  he  here  says,  that  a  falling  away  is  possible, 
even  to  the  children  of  God  !  It  cannot  easily 
happen  ;  but  it  may  liappen. 

In  strict  language,  every  fall  is  a  falling  away  ; 
for  it  is  a  temporary  forgetfulness  and  turning 
aside  from  Him  who  hath  said,  "  Abide  in  me." 
But  the  Scripture  evidently  makes  a  distinction 
between  falling  and  falling  away.  Thus  the 
apostle  here  does  not  refer  to  that  falling  or 
stumbling  through  weakness,  of  which  it  is  writ- 
ten, "  The  just  man  falleth  seven  times  a  day, 
and  riseth  again."  Such  falls  are  often  made 
useful  to  us  ;  and  let  no  man  judge  or  condemn 
them  who  thus  fall ;  for  they  are  already  judged 
enough  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  To  their  own  Lord 
and  Master  they  stand  or  fall:  yea,  they  shall  be 
hoiden  up ;  for  God  is  able  to  make  them  to 


\ 


A 


AND    RECOVERY.  147 

Stand,  Rom.  xiv.  4.     The  apostle  then  speaks 
not  here  o(such  falling,  but  of  falling  mvai/  ;  and 
what  this  is  we  are  more  particularly  to  consider. 
In  the  4th  verse  of  the  5th  chapter  of  his  epis- 
tle to  the  Galatians,  we  meet  with  persons  who 
had  fallen  away.     Let  us  endeavour  to  under- 
stand their  case.     The  apostle  describes  them  as 
having  been  actually  awakened  and  converted  ; 
and  declares  to  them,  "  Christ  is  become  of  no  ef- 
fect unto  you  ;  ye  are  fallen  from  grace."     In 
what  consisted  the  falling  aioay  of  these  Gala- 
tians ?     In  this,  my  brethren  :  that  they  had  got      4 
out  of  an  evangelical  stELte  into  a  legal  one  ;  out 
of  a  receiving  condition  into  an  earning  condi- 
tion ;  out  of  a  recognition  of  themselves  as  poor,      \ 
lost,  helpless  sinners,  into  a  vain,  self-working, 
self-helping  course.     They  had  lost  the  lively 
sense  of  their  unworthiness  and  inability  ;  and, 
instead  of  abiding  implicitly  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross,  so  as  to  live  upon  grace  and  foregiveness 
alone,  they  had  become  bewildered  with  the  un-       " 
happy  notion  of  being  their  own  saviours  and  in- 
tercessors.    And  whereas  they  ought  to  have 
judged  and  condemned  themselves  for  their  sins, 
and  then,  in  continual  humiliation   before  the 
mercy-seat,  to  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made     A 
them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  they  had      "' 
become  minded  to  heal  their  own  backslidino*s, 
to  establish  their  own  righteousness  by  works  of     ^   .. 
the  law,  and  to  form  to  themselves  a  personal,       \^ 
self-acquired  worthiness ;  so  that  St.  Paul  was      ^ 


148  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

obliged  to  cry  unto  them,  "  Ye  did  run  well  ; 
who  hath  hindered  you  that  ye  should  no  longer 
obey  the  truth?"  This  was  a  falling  away;  a 
departure  from  grace  ;  it  was  an  erring  from  the 
way  of  God's  children  into  the  way  of  self  right- 
eous, natural  men  ;  a  virtual  renunciation  of 
Christ ;  a  tacit  declaration  that  they  no  longer 
needed  him,  and  could  do  without  him.  It  was 
a  depreciation  of  his  precious  blood  ;  a  contempt 
of  his  sacrifice,  and  a  rejection  of  his  person  :  so 
that  St.  Paul  could  utter  that  reproach  with  the 
utmost  propriety  and  justice,  Christ  is  again 
"crucified  among  you."  Indeed,  he  might  with 
good  reason  have  exclaimed  to  them  in  the  words 
of  our  text,  Ye  have  '-'crucified  the  Son  of  God 
afresh,  and  put  him  to  an  open  shame."  Such 
then,  it  clearly  appears,  may  be  the  falling  away 
of  real  Christians ;  and  alas  !  it  is  not  uncom- 
mon in  the  kingdom  of  God  upon  earth. 

But  there  is  a  falling  away  which  is  more 
fearful  still.  Not  only  a  falling  away  from 
grace  into  legal  bondage,  but  a  falling  away  into 
lawlessness,  or  into  a  course  without  law  alto- 
gether ;  a  falling  away  from  God  to  idols  ;  from 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  the  world ;  from  the 
way  of  light  into  the  way  of  the  flesh  and  of  dark- 
ness. This  would  seem  hardly  credible,  did  not 
sad  experience  show  it  to  be  true.  Look  at  Da- 
vid at  one  period  of  his  life.  But  no :  on  Da- 
vid's crime,  dreadful  as  it  was,  we  will  not  insist ; 
it  was  rather  an  awful  fall^  than  afallitig  aicay. 


AND    RECOVERY.  149 

Think  then  of  Solomon,  that  precious  man  of 
God,  that  Jedidiah  from  his  cradle  :  observe 
him  in  his  career ;  and  how  can  you  help  shud- 
dering? Oh,  behold,  behold!  The  fervent 
singer  of  the  Song  of  Songs,  the  master  of  as- 
semblies for  his  wisdom  of  proverbs,  the  man 
full  of  faith  and  zeal,  whither  has  he  fallen 
away?  He  has  "seven  hundred  wives,  prin- 
cesses, and  three  hundred  concubines  ;"  and  his 
wives  have  "turned  away  his  heart,"  1  Kings 
xi.  3.  By  all  these  is  he  encompassed,  and  they 
hold  him  in  their  snares  and  bands.  His  heart 
is  bound  to  strange  gods,  and  he  walks  after  Ash- 
taroth,  the  abomination  of  the  Sidonians,  and 
after  Chemosh,  the  abomination  of  the  Moabites, 
and  after  Milcom,  the  abomination  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Ammon,  2  Kings  xxiii.  13.  He  doeth 
"  that  which  is  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  f 
he  builds  on  the  high  places  idol  temples  and 
altars  to  these  abominations,  and  assists  his  idol- 
atrous wives  at  their  incense  and  offerings. 
Twice  does  the  Lord  appear  to  him,  and  give 
him  a  commandment  not  to  walk  after  other 
gods,  I  Kings  iii.  14;  2  Chron.  vii.  12—22; 
but  he  obeys  it  not ;  he  continues  in  his  depar- 
ture from  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel ;  so  that 
the  Lord  is  obliged  at  length,  to  come  against 
him  with  the  thunder  and  lightning  of  his  judg-- 
ments.  And,  oh  !  how  many  of  the  children  of 
God  have  brought  upon  themselves,  in  like  man- 
ner, his  rebukes  and  visitations !  How  many, 
13 


150  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

to  whom  the  world  had  been  already  crucified, 
have  gone  back  again  to  the  world !  How 
many,  who  have  been  perhaps  for  some  con- 
siderable time  serving  the  Lord,  have  turned 
aside  into  the  wilderness  of  sin,  from  which  they 
were  clean  escaped ;  and  there,  have  been  fain 
to  feed  again  upon  the  husks  which  the  swine 
did  eat !  Alas  !  are  there  not  even  now  in  the 
midst  of  us  some  such  unhappy  persons,  who 
once  walked  with  God ;  but,  behold,  they  have 
broken  the  covenant,  and  defiled  it ;  who  once 
stood  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  but  are  now  with 
their  own  hands  crucifying  the  Son  of  God 
afresh,  putting  him  to  an  open  shame,  and  tread- 
ing under  foot  his  precious  blood  ;  who  once 
were  ready  to  number  themselves  with  repent- 
ing Peter,  or  with  the  thief  upon  the  cross,  or 
with  the  woman  that  was  a  sinner,  but  now  not 
a  tear  is  dropped  by  them  over  their  sins,  be- 
cause their  heart  is  become  as  iron  and  brass ; 
who  once  joined  in  singing  the  song  of  Moses 
and  of  the  Lamb,  but  are  now  strangers  to  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  sing  the  song  of  the 
world  and  of  BeUal ;  who  once  were  pleasant 
plants  to  the  glorifying  of  God,  but  are  now  as 
common  trees  "  choked"  up  in  the  forest,  with- 
ered and  dry,  ^^ithout  bloom,  leaves,  or  fruit, 
without  sap  in  bough  or  branch  ;  whom  neither 
transplanting  nor  watering  can  benefit  any 
more  ?  Alas  !  we  fear  that  our  own  church 
can  show  some  such  ;   that  we  have  no  need  to 


AND    RECOVERY.  151 

look  after  them  at  a  distance,  because  we  live 
near  them.  Is  it  not  so  ?  And  if  it  be,  have  we 
not  before  us  living  instances  of  the  possibility 
of  "  ItilUng  away"  from  grace? 

III.  The  warning  given. 

Let  me  then  address,  lastly,  those  who  have 
fallen  away.  Hearken  to  that  awful  thunder  of 
the  Divine  oracle,  which  declares  that  "  it  is 
impossible  for  those  who  were  once  enlightened, 
and  have  tasted  of  the  heavenly  gift,  and  were 
made  partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  have 
tasted  the  good  word  of  God,  and  the  powers  of 
the  world  to  come,  if  they  shall  fall  away,  to 
renew  them  again  unto  repentance  ;  seeing  they 
crucify  to  themselves  the  Son  of  God  afresh, 
and  put  him  to  an  open  shame."  How  terribly 
does  this  sound  !  almost  like  -'Depart  from  me, 
ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels."  And,  indeed,  it  is  evi- 
dent at  once  how  difficult  must  be  the  restora- 
tion of  those,  who,  having  taken  root  in  a  life  of 
holiness,  and  having  been  blessed  with  sweet 
experiences  of  Divine  love,  could  after  all,  have 
fallen  away  !  Whoever  is  conscious  that  he  is 
guilty  of  this,  may  well  tremble.  The  word  "im- 
possible" in  our  text  is  enough  to  fill  him  with 
horrible  dread.  And  if  so,  "  let  him  that  think- 
eth  he  standeth,  take  heed  lest  he  fall  I"  Let  all 
of  us  watch  and  pray ;  let  our  abiding  station  be 


152  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

ever  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  There  let  us  He 
down  and  take  our  rest ;  there  let  us  arise  in  the 
morning  ;  there  perform  every  duty  of  our  daily 
life  ;  there  let  us  be  formed,  and  fixed,  and  live  ; 
there  wait  for  the  Bridegroom  ;  there  breathe  our 
last : — so  are  we  safe. 

But  your  expectation,  my  brethren,  is  now  on 
the  stretch,  and  we  may  well  suppose  that  many 
a  heart  has  secret  misgivings  and  sad  forebod- 
ings ;  yes,  that  some  among  3^ou,  who  have 
fallen,  are  feeling  the  weight  of  that  word  "  im- 
possible,^^  as  the  weight  of  a  mountain  upon 
your  souls.  We  mourn  over  you  ;  but  yet  we 
ask.  Have  you  indeed  fallen  away?  You  are 
ready  to  reply  in  the  affirmative,  and  are  in  great 
fear  on  that  account.  But  do  you  not  sigh  and 
groan  in  spirit,  and  would  you  not  gladly  return 
unto  God  ?  Do  not  your  hearts  long  for  this  ? 
only  you  imagine  there  is  no  hope  of  it,  sup- 
posing yourselves  lost,  because  you  have  been 
unfaithful,  regarding  yourselves  as  vile  sinners, 
who  have  crucified  the  Son  of  God  afresh,  doubt- 
ing how  he  can  ever  receive  you  again,  and  con- 
cluding this  to  be  impossible.  Are  not  such  the 
thoughts  and  feelings  of  your  souls  ?  If  so,  these 
very  thoughts  and  feelings  tell  us  enough  about 
you  to  warrant  our  saying.  Rejoice,  and  be  of 
good  courage  ;  for  your  despondency  is  without 
cause.  Certainly  the  words  of  our  text  bring  you 
nothing  but  consolation.  Yes,  my  brethren, 
consolation.      Only    understand    the    apostle's 


AND    RECOVERY.  153 

He  teaches  indeed  that  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  renew  again  unto  repentance  those  who 
have  fallen  away;  but  you,  as  it  appears,  have 
already  begun  to  experience  that  renewal.  Your 
fear  and  dread,  your  heartfelt  sorrow,  your  judg- 
ing and  condemning  of  yourselves  before  the 
Lord,  what  is  it  else  than  that  brokenness  and 
contrition  of  spirit  which  God  will  not  despise  ? 
Is  not  your  sorrow  that  godly  sorrow  which 
worketh  repentance  unto  salvation  ?  Therefore 
you  have  no  need  to  reckon  yourselves  as  those 
who  are  fallen  away.  Be  convinced  of  this  truth, 
and  be  of  good  courage.  Let  your  anxious  souls 
be  so  comforted  by  it  as  to  return  at  once  to  God 
decidedly  and  fully,  instead  of  yielding  any 
longer  to  desponding  thoughts,  which  will  only 
drive  you  farther  and  farther  from  Him. 

Yet  we  fear  that  some  are  comfortless  and 
desponding  in  another  way.  A  parent  is  per- 
haps thinking  of  a  son  who  has  fallen  away  ;  or 
a  brother  is  dejected  on  account  of  a  backsliding 
brother;  or  a  friend  is  anxious  about  an  apostate 
friend ;  and  that  word  "  impossible"  is  like  a 
weight  of  lead  to  such  anxious  persons,  so  that 
they  feel  as  if  they  saw  the  gates  of  hell  opened  ; 
and  a  brother,  a  son,  or  a  friend  exposed  beyond 
recovery  to  everlasting  fire.  Wherewith  then 
shall  we  comfort  such  dear  brethren,  whom  per- 
haps we  have  deprived  of  the  agreeable  feeling 
and  consciousness  of  their  own  safety  also,  or  at 
least  have  shaken  and  disturbed  it  ?  We  say  to 
13* 


154  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

such  among  you  as  it  regards  yourselves,  Be  the 
more  diligent  to  watch  and  pray.  And'as  it  regards 
those  for  whom  you  are  anxious,  we  would  say, 
If  they  have  ever  proved  themselves  children  of 
God,  they  will  surely  recover  and  return. 
Though  our  own  eyes  may  never  see  them  do 
it,  and  though  they  may  hardly  be  conscious  of 
it  themselves,  yet  the  Spirit  of  God  has  not  ut- 
terly forsaken  them  ;  for  concerning  Him  we 
have  the  promise,  "  He  abideth  with  you."  The 
word  of  God  can  never  be  at  variance  with  it- 
self, but  the  general  tenor  of  Scripture  will  bear 
the  closest  comparison  with  any  of  its  parts. 
What  Christ  says  in  the  Gospel  of  St  John,  "  My 
sheep  shall  never  perish,  and  no  man  shall  pluck 
them  out  of  my  hand  ;  my  Father  who  gave  them 
me  is  greater  than  all,  and  no  mau  is  able  to 
pluck  them  out  of  my  Father's  hand  ;"  and  what 
he  said  at  Capernaum,  "All  that  the  Father  giv- 
eth  me,  will  come  unto  me  ;  and  this  is  the  Fa- 
ther's will  which  hath  sent  me,  that  of  all  that 
he  hath  given  unto  me,  I  should  lose  nothing, 
but  should  raise  it  up  again  at  the  last  day :" 
these  words  of  the  Lord  abide  immovable.  And 
what  the  Holy  Ghost  saith  in  our  text,  militates 
not  against  these  sayings  of  Christ.  This  we 
must  now  briefly  evince  to  you. 

By  closely  attending  to  the  text,  it  appears  to 
me  to  assert  no  abstract  impossibility  of  renewal 
to  those  who  fall  away  ;  but  only  that  "it  is  im- 
possible to  renew  them,"    Now,  a  physician  may 


AND    RECOVERY.  155 

say  of  a  person  dangerously  ill,  it  is  impossible 
to  do  any  thing  for  him;  by  which  he  only 
means,  that  medical  skill  is  here  at  an  end. 
Should  he  say  it  is  absolutely  impossible  for  such 
a  person  to  recover,  he  would  say  too  much  ;  for 
Divine  omnipotence  can  heal  beyond  all  human 
expectation.  The  apostle  then  appears  to  me  to 
mean  that  those  ordinary  remedies,  to  which  the 
Lord  has  given  such  mighty  efficacy,  those  ad- 
monitions of  love,  private  warnings,  and  preach- 
ing of  the  word,  whereby  other  children  of  God 
are  easily  re-awakened  and  invigorated,  have  no 
effect  in  the  case  of  these  lapsed  persons  ;  that 
serious  appeals  and  sharp  rebukes,  promises  and 
threatenings,  kind  remonstrances  and  friendly 
entreaties,  are  to  such  souls  as  dew  fallen  on  a 
beaten  path,  or  rain  on  the  rocks.  Observe,  then, 
that  this  word  "  impossible^^^  refers  only  to  the 
ordinary  means  of  grace  committed  to  God's 
ministers,  but  has  no  reference  to  God  himself; 
and  has  the  same  meaning  as  our  Saviour's  word 
in  the  10th  chapter  of  St  Mark,  where  he  saith, 
"  It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through  the  eye  of 
a  needle,  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  God.''  For  when  the  disciples,  as- 
tonished at  this,  inquired,  "  Who  then  can  be 
saved?"  he  explained  himself  by  replying,  "With 
man  it  is  impossible,  but  not  with  God  ;  for  with 
God  all  things  are  possible."  But  why  did  not 
St.  Paul  add  a  similar  explanation  ?  I  answer, 
that  as  he  intended  to  warn  men  against  false 


156  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 

security  and  apostacy,  he  saw  it  necessary  to 
speak  more  strongly ;  but  to  prevent  it  from 
giving  needless  disquietude  to  any  true  Christian, 
there  are  several  notices  in  this  chapter  itself,  by 
which  we  may  be  reminded  that  it  is  not  impos- 
sible for  God  lo  renew  again  his  lapsed  chil- 
dren unto  repentance. 

Look  first  into  ver.  3,  where,  having  had  occa- 
sion to  apprehend  concerning  some  of  the  per- 
sons to  whom  he  is  writing,  that  they  were  fall- 
en away,  he  clearly  intimates  his  concern  lest 
his  preaching  the  great  mysteries  of  godliness  to 
some  of  them  should  after  all  prove  without  ef- 
fect, like  seed  upon  hard  and  unsusceptible  soil. 
He  expresses,  however,  his  determination  to 
persevere  in  preaching  those  great  mysteries  to 
them.  "  This  we  will  do,"  saith  he,  "  if  God 
permit,"  or  render  it  possible.  What  does  he 
mean  by  God's  permitting  or  making  it  possible? 
Did  he  not  know  that  some  of  them  were  hard- 
ened in  heart  against  it?  Had  he  not  said  just 
before,  ch.  v.  11,  12,  that  the  persons  whom  he 
had  in  view  were  dull  of  hearing,  and  were  be- 
come such  as  have  need  of  milk,  requring  to  be 
taught  again  the  first  principles  of  the  oracles  of 
God  ?  This  is  true  ;  but  he  means,  that  though 
it  was  out  of  his  power,  it  was  not  out  of  the 
power  of  God,  to  restore  such  backslidden  souls ; 
but  that,  however  they  were  shut  up  against 
him,  he  could  break  up  the  hard  ground,  so  as 
to  soften  and  render  it  productive.    He,  therefore, 


AND    RECOVERY. 


157 


expresses  his  belief  upon  this  point  plainly- 
enough,  yet  somewhat  covertly,  saying,  "  If  God 
permit." 

But  it  may  be  asked,  whether  he  does  not  in 
the  8th  verse  manifestly  imply  that  those  who 
have  once  fallen  away,  are  irrecoverably  lost. 
For  he  there  compares  them  to  a  soil  which,  not- 
withstanding the  blessing  that  has  been  rained 
upon  it,  bears  only  thorns  and  briers  ;  and  says 
of  ground  like  this,  that  "  it  is  rejected,'"  (or  bad 
ground,  useless  for  cultivation,)  ''  and  nigh  unto 
cursing,  whose  end  is  to  be  burned."     We  reply, 
these,  indeed,  are  strong  and  fearful  expressions ; 
but  to  be  nigh  unto  cursing,  is  not  the  same 
thing  as  to  be  actually  cursed,  any  more  than  to 
be  nigh  u7ito  death,  means  actually  dead.  The 
Avords,  "  whose  end  is  to  be  burned,"  are  truly 
awful  words  ;  but  they  are  not  words  of  despera- 
tion, though  such  they  may  seem  at  first  sight. 
Had  those  who  have  fallen  away  been  compared 
to  dry  wood,  which  at  length  is  used  only  for 
"  fuel  of  fire,"  the  case  would  have  been  very  dif- 
ferent.    But  they  are  compared  only  to  untract- 
able  soil,  whose  end  is  to  be  burned.     Now,  it 
was  the  custom  in  the  east  to  set  barren  lands  on 
fire;  but  for  what  purpose?     Was  it  to  render 
them  useless,  and  to  convert  them  into  a  desert? 
No  ;  it  was  to  cleanse,  renovate,  and  restore  them 
to  fruitfulness.     Here  then  the  apostle  means, 
that  as  men  treat  their  lands,  so  will  God  finally 
deal  with  his  children  who  have  fallen  away. 


158 


SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION 


They  shall  be  renewed  again  unto  repentance, 
but  it  must  be  as  by  fire  ;  with  the  burning  torch 
of  severe  judgments  and  fearful  visitations;  by 
such  flames  of  wrath  and  pains  of  hell  as  were 
felt  by  David  and  Solomon.  Be  of  good  cheer, 
then,  ye  truly  penitent  and  believing,  but  still 
anxious  and  desponding  brethren.  If  it  be  still 
doubtful  to  you,  whether  the  covenant  on  God's 
part  be  concluded  and  established  for  ever,  re- 
maining immovable  and  indissoluble  under  all 
circumstances,  read  only  the  whole  chapter 
which  contains  the  passage  we  have  been  con- 
sidering. Here  the  apostle  preaches  to  us  of  the 
Divine  faithfulness  in  such  a  manner,  as  may 
well  cause  every  penitent  sinner's  heart  to  sing 
for  joy.  Here  it  appears  as  if  those  whom  the  in- 
spired writer  had  smitten  to  the  ground  with  the 
thunder  of  his  awful  warnings,  he  would  now 
raise  up  again  to  heaven  with  his  own  hands. 
Observe  how  strongly  in  this  very  chapter,  he 
insists  on  that  obvious  truth,  that  it  is  impossible 
for  God  to  lie,  or  revoke  his  word  !  If  he  have, 
once  for  all,  ratified  as  by  an  oath  his  favour  to- 
wards us  by  the  voice  of  his  Spirit;  if  he  have, 
once  for  all,  not  only  left  for  us  poor  sinners  a 
promise  of  entering  into  his  rest,  but  sealed  that 
promise  to  our  souls,  then  we  have  a  strong  con- 
solation. These  two  things,  his  oath  and  his 
word  of  promise,  once  given,  can  never  waver : 
in  having  these,  we  have,  for  all  occasions,  a 
sure  and  steadfast  anchor,  which  entereth  into 


AND    RECOVERY.  159 

that  within  the  veil.  Behold,  such  are  the 
thoughts  of  the  apostle  upon  these  great  sub- 
jects ! 

And  now,  for  whose  benefit  has  our  address 
been  delivered  '/     First,  for  those  who  are  at  ease 
in  Zion,  living  in  false  security  ;  and  secondly, 
for  those  who  are  desponding,  and  of  little  faith. 
To  the  former,  it  has  been  intended  as  a  warn- 
ing, that  they  may  learn  to  watch  and  pray,  to 
abide  simply  and  entirely  at  the  foot  of  the  cross, 
and  not  be  seduced  unawares  into  error  and  con- 
fusion.    For  it  is  most  dreadful  and  painful  to  be 
at  last  set  on  fire,  like  a  barren  and  thorny  field, 
in  order  to  be  renewed  again  unto  repentance. 
To  the  latter  it  has  been  intended  as  a  word  of 
strength  and  consolation.     For  the  covenant  of 
Jehovah  stands  fast  for  ever  ;  "  the  foundation  of 
God  remaineth  sure,  having  this  seal,  The  Lord 
knoweth  them  that  are  his."     Yes.  he  knoweth 
you.     Come  unto  Him,  all  ye  who  are  invited  to 
sit  down  at  the  table  of  his  marriage-feast,  like 
the  prodigal  son,  tattered  and  worn-out  as  you 
may  be  ;  come  only  just  as  you  are,  covered  with 
the  dust  of  your  wanderings  in  the  desert  of  this 
world  :  for  no  sooner  does  He  behold  you  return- 
ing to  the  tables  of  his  covenant,  than  he  imme- 
diately remembers  that  covenant  with  you,  though 
you  may  have  forgotten  it  for  years  ;  and  he  will 
paternally  welcome  you,  and  speak  comfortably 
to  your  hearts,  saying,  "  Fear  not,  for  I  have 
loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love,  therefore 


160  SPIRITUAL    DECLENSION,  &C. 

with  loving-kindness  have  I  drawn  thee."  Oh  ! 
is  He  not  then  a  faithful  God,  a  Father  of  mer- 
cies, and  a  God  of  all  comfort?  Let  his  faithful- 
ness and  tender  mercies  even  now  break  your 
hearts ;  and  come  unto  Him  with  your  hearts 
thus  broken  !  He  will  embrace  you,  revive  you, 
and  give  you  peace. 


THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN. 


Matthew  iv.  1 — 11. 

Then  was  Jesus  led  up  of  the  Spirit  into  the  wilderness,  to  be 
tempted  of  the  devil.  And  when  he  had  fasted  forty  days 
and  forty  nights,  he  was  afterward  an  hungered.  And 
when  the  tempter  came  to  him,  he  said,  If  thou  be  the  Son 
of  God,  command  that  these  stones  be  made  bread.  But  he 
answered  and  said,  It  is  written,  Man  shall  not  live  by 
bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the 
mouth  of  God.  Then  the  devil  taketh  him  up  into  the 
holy  city,  and  setteth  him  on  a  pinnacle  of  the  temple,  and 
saith  unto  him,  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  cast  thyself 
down;  for  it  is  written,  He  shall  give  his  angels  charge 
concerning  thee ;  and  in  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee 
up,  lest  at  any  time  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone. 
Jesus  said  unto  him.  It  is  written  again,  Thou  shalt  not 
tempt  the  Lord  thy  God.  Again,  the  devil  taketh  him  up 
into  an  exceeding  high  mountain,  and  showeth  him  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  the  glory  of  them  ;  and  saith 
unto  him.  All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou  wilt  fall 
down  and  worship  me.  Then  saith  Jesus  unto  him.  Get 
thee  hence,  Satan  ;  for  it  is  written,  Thou  shalt  worship  the 
Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt  thou  serve.  Then  the 
devil  leaveth  him,  and,  behold,  angels  came  and  ministered 
unto  him. 

We  are  here  upon  one  of  those  memorable 
battle  fields,  where  glory  was  gotten,  that  still  to 
this  day  smiles  upon  ourselves  ;  where  triumphs 
14 


162        THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN. 

were  achieved,  which  assure^  victory  to  us  in 
Christ  Jesus  before  we  fight,  and  make  us  more 
than  conquerors  even  in  death.  Never  was  a 
combat  more  wonderful  in  its  nature,  or  more 
beneficial  in  its  consequences,  than  that  of  which 
the  inspired  historian  thus  informs  us.  It  was 
one  which  intimately  concerns  every  human 
being,  and  has  the  closest  relation  to  our  most 
sacred  interests.  Therefore  it  well  merits  our 
devout  attention. 

I.  The  leading  into  the  wilderness. 

Our  Saviour  had  dedicated  himself  in  the  bap- 
tism of  Jordan,  and  had  been  visibly  anointed  by 
the  fiery  baptism  of  "the  Spirit  without  mea- 
sure," to  the  Mediatorship  of  the  new  covenant. 
There  had  descended  upon  him  from  heaven  an 
audible  Divine  testimony,  that  he  was  the  belov- 
ed Son  of  God,  in  whom  the  Father  was  well 
pleased.  Thus  consecrated  and  Divinely  fur- 
nished for  his  mediatorial  and  priestly  ofiice,  he 
is  led,  by  a  powerful  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
into  the  depths  of  the  wilderness. 

II.  The  fasting. 

Was  this  fasting  a  part  of  the  special  plan  of 
Him  who  led  him  into  the  wilderness  ?  It  was ; 
and  a  means  to  an  end.  Do  you  ask  on  what 
account  it  was  expedient  that  Jesus  should  fast, 


THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN.        163 

and  especially  in  such  a  dreary  solitude,  and  so 
severely,  or  for  such  a  length  of  time?  Know 
this  first,  that  our  Messiah's  fasting  had  reference 
to  a  purpose  very  different  from  that  of  the  fast- 
ing of  Moses  on  Mount  Sinai,  and  of  other  holy 
persons.  While  it  was  to  serve  as  an  exercise  of 
devotion  and  of  preparation  for  his  priestly  of- 
fice, it  was  also,  according  to  the  opinion  of 
some,  the  commencement  of  his  priestly  sacrifice 
for  the  sin  of  man.  So  that  to  open  the  mean- 
ing not  only  of  his  temptation  in  the  wilderness, 
but  also  of  his  fasting  there,  we  must  look  for  the 
key  behind  the  barred  gates  of  paradise  lost — thus 
was  his  fasting  the  amends  for  Adam's  forbidden 
fruition,  the  payment  for  his  guilt  in  the  garden; 
it  was  a  suffering  that  contributed  to  make  satis- 
faction. Did  the  first  father  of  our  race  sin 
while  dwelling  in  the  delightful  paradise  of 
Eden  ?  Therefore  we  find  the  Second  Adam  in 
a  waste  and  dreary  wilderness.  Was  the  first 
man,  who  is  of  the  earth,  earthy,  embowered  by 
the  lovely  trees  of  the  garden,  and  nurtured  by 
its  delicious  fruits  ?  Therefore  must  the  Second 
Man,  who  is  the  Lord  from  heaven,  be  imprison- 
ed in  a  wilderness  of  hunger,  surrounded  by  no- 
thing but  stones  and  rugged  rocks,  where  grew 
not  a  single  plant  that  could  relieve  the  cravings 
of  nature.  Did  our  first  father,  before  he  had 
sinned,  enjoy  the  most  dehghtful  fellowship  with 
God,  and  with  his  holy  angels,  and  with  one 
who  was  such  a  true  help  meet  for  him,  that  her 


164        THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN. 

unspotted  innocence  was  most  meek  to  mingle  with 
his  own  high  and  divine  enjoyments?  Lo,  He 
who  was  born  the  Second  Adam  and  Father  of 
the  everlasting  age,  was  banished  into  the  most 
gloomy  solitude,  to  "  dwell  with  the  wild  beasts," 
Mark  i.  13,  and  amidst  the  circumventions  of 
that  old  serpent,  the  devil  and  Satan.  Dreadful 
contrast !  But  such  is  the  righteous  judgment  of 
God.  Our  great  Surety  and  Representative,  in 
that  forlorn  and  inhospitable  desert,  fasting  and 
hungering  in  the  sinner's  stead,  atones  for  the 
otherwise  unpardonable  presumption  with  which 
Adam,  in  despite  of  the  express  warning  of  God, 
had  stretched  out  his  hand  to  take  the  forbidden 
fruit.  Verily,  my  brethren,  Jesus  has  thus  made 
full  amends  in  behalf  of  all  his  people.  Nothing 
more  of  the  kind  is  required  of  ourselves  ;  the 
atonement  is  made,  once  for  all  and  for  ever. 
But  as  for  any  of  you  who  think  lightly  of  this 
satisfaction  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  you  may  regard 
the  situation  of  Jesus  in  the  wilderness  as  a  faith- 
ful counterpart  of  your  own  future  condition. 
For  thus  will  ye  have  to  take  up  your  abode  in 
the  gloomy  desert  of  eternity ;  where  ye  shall 
hunger,  but  find  stones  instead  of  bread  ;  where 
ye  shall  thirst,  but  have  fire,  storm,  and  tempest 
for  your  portion  to  drink  instead  of  water  ;  where 
ye  shall  dwell  with  such  fallen  spirits  as  are 
called  ravening  wolves,  Matt.  vii.  15,  Acts  xx. 
29  ;  unclean  dogs,  Phil.  iii.  2  ;  Rev.  xxii.  15 ; 
roaring  lions,  Zeph.  iii.  3  ;  and  hissing  serpents, 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  165 

Deut.  vii.  15  ;  Isa.  xi\r.  29  ;  Mai.  i.  3.  Thus 
shall  ye  be  solitary  and  forsaken  amidst  whole 
hosts  of  the  condemned,  Isa.  xiv.  9,  19 ;  Matt, 
xiii.  37—43.  For  in  hell  there  is  neither  con- 
verse nor  friendship,  nor  affectionate  intercourse  : 
there  nothing  but  hatred  and  selfishness  prevail ; 
and  each  reprobate  spirit  is  too  much  occupied 
with  his  own  torment  and  wretchedness  to  con- 
cern himself  about  his  companions  in  woe.  And 
the  duration  of  this  punishment  is  "everlasting!" 
Matt.  XXV.  46.  Will  not  the  very  sound  of  such 
awful  truth  one  day  rend  the  rocks  and  make  the 
mountains  tremble?  Let  not  then  our  own 
hearts  be  harder  than  the  rock,  Jer.  v.  3. 

Fastings  there  are  even  still  in  the  kingdom  of 
God  upon  earth  ;  bodily  and  spiritual  fasts  of  all 
kinds;  painful  and  cheerful  fasts.  Those  which 
are  most  cheerful  are  kept  in  that  vernal  season 
of  the  soul,  when  in  the  genial  warmth  of  the 
risen  Sun  of  Righteousness,  it  first  begins  to  bring 
forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance  ;  for  it  now  feels 
the  kindness  and  love  of  God  our  Saviour,  which 
hath  appeared  unto  all  men,  and  it  is  affianced  to 
the  heavenly  Bridegroom.  The  soul  now  no 
longer  needs  self  denial  and  forbearance  to  be 
commanded  and  enjoined ;  for  it  renounces  self 
of  its  own  accord.  It  flies,  as  by  a  new  instinct, 
from  scenes  of  temptation  and  danger,  like  a  bird 
from  the  deadly  weapon  of  the  fowler.  How  can 
the  once  lost  son,  now  happily  recovered,  content 
himself  any  longer  with  the  husks  !  for  he  has 
14* 


166  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

tasted  the  fruit  of  the  vine  that  flourished  in  "  the 
pleasant  land,"  and  of  the  refreshments  of  its  milk 
and  honey.  How  can  the  renewed  man  still 
take  delight  in  the  trimbrel  and  the  dance,  or 
rejoice  at  the  sound  of  the  tabret  and  pipe,  after 
he  has  once  learnt  to  raise  his  holy  songs  of  joy 
on  the  harp  of  David !  In  opposition  to  the 
vanities  and  follies  of  this  world,  he  sets  the 
certainties  which  his  faith  now  beholds  in  the 
opening  glories  of  heaven  ;  and  with  the  couch 
of  ease  and  luxury  he  contrasts  the  cross  whereon 
He  whom  his  soul  loveth  was  suspended,  bleeding 
and  crowned  with  thorns.  Away  then  at  once 
with  every  wretched  and  shadowy  joy,  and  every 
glittering  vanity  ;  trouble  us  not,  vain  world,  with 
these,  for  we  are  keeping  a  fast  to  the  Lord. 
How  often  do  we  hear  it  controverted  and  ques- 
tioned whether  one  pleasure  or  anotherbe  com- 
patible with  real  piety  !  Only  let  men  become 
really  in  earnest  about  their  own  salvation,  and 
they  will  cease  from  such  flimsy  casuistry ;  and 
will  perceive  at  once  what  agrees  or  disagrees 
with  the  spirit  of  true  religion  ;  or  how  far  per- 
mission and  ability  to  pursue  any  pleasure  may 
belong  to  children  of  God  and  heirs  of  the 
kingdom. 

Other  fastings  are  incident  to  a  state  of  grace, 
which  are  not  joyous,  but  grievous.  These 
happen  when  the  soul  is  led  away,  not  from  the 
wild  luxuries  of  the  world  into  the  pastures  of  the 
good  Shepherd,  but   from  these  refreshing  and 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  167 

invigorating  pastures  into  a  seeming  wilderness. 
Oh !  it  is  a  bitter  change,  and  we  have  felt  it  the 
more  from  having  enjoyed  such  unspeakable  hap- 
piness while  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom.  We  then 
cry  out,  Where  is  the  blessedness  I  knew? 
Where  are  now  those  lively  and  sweet  emotions, 
those  congenial  delights  and  Uvely  enjoyments 
which  we  realized  in  the  Lord's  nearness  to  our 
souls?  We  were  so  happy  that  we  could  gladly 
have  departed  from  this  present  life  at  once,  and 
have  passed  beyond  our  present  precincts  of  para- 
dise into  the  unseen  world.  The  south  wind 
breathed  upon  our  garden,  so  that  the  spices 
thereof  flowed  out,  Sol.  Song  iv.  16  ;  the  clusters 
of  Canaan  were  gathered  abundantly,  and  a 
heart-gladdening  sense  of  love  was  like  the  fresh 
morning  dew  diffused  upon  our  spirits ;  it  made  us 
feel  ourselves  at  the  King's  table,  recreated  and 
comforted,  and  caused  us  to  forget  all  sorrow. 
But  unexpectedly  a  change  takes  place ;  the 
streams  of  milk  and  honey  are  dried  up  ;  the  soul 
is  deprived  of  its  pleasant  food  ;  it  sits  down,  in 
leanness  and  indigence,  on  the  ground  ;  its  harp 
is  hung  upon  the  willow,  and  with  our  utmost 
eiforts  we  can  do  no  more  than  sigh  for  one  dew- 
drop  of  heavenly  blessing.  This  is  fasting  indeed 
to  the  children  of  God  in  the  wilderness.  Happy 
he  whose  place  of  security  is  the  munitions  of 
rocks ;  who  rests  upon  Christ  and  his  word,  and 
not  in  his  own  frames  and  feelings  !  "  Bread  shall 
be  given  him,  his  waters  shall  be  sure,"  Isa.  xxxiii. 


168  THE    DEPTHS   OF   SATAN. 

16.  Such  an  one,  even  when  he  is  "  as  having 
nothing,"  in  the  way  ofpositiverehsh  and  enjoy- 
ment, yet  is  "  possessing  all  things"  by  simple  and 
implicit  faith  ;  and,  though  exulting  feelings  may 
have  left  him,  the  peace  of  God  is  still  with  him. 
He  casts  anchor  beneath  the  immovable  and 
sheltering  rocks  of  the  Divine  promises,  and 
comforts  himself  with  the  assurance  that  they 
stand  fast  for  ever.  He  knows  that  though  the 
mountains  shall  depart,  and  the  hills  be  removed, 
the  kindness  of  God  shall  never  depart,  neither 
the  covenant  of  his  peace  be  broken.  Even  such 
a  fasting  in  the  wilderness,  when  God  appoints  it, 
is  good  and  wholesome.  What  can  we  better 
wish  for,  than  to  be  always  under  the  guidance 
of  Divine  grace  ?  Therefore  let  it  conduct  us 
according  to  its  good  pleasure. 

ni.    The    TEMPTATIONS. 

Jesus  went  into  the  wilderness  to  fast.  But 
more  than  this  was  designed  by  the  purpose  of 
God.  For  what  saith  the  Scripture?  "Jesus 
was  led  up  of  the  Spirit  into  the  wilderness  tohe 
tempted  of  the  devils  How  terrific  and  extra- 
ordinary a  portion  of  our  Saviour's  history  is  this  ! 
that  the  Son  of  God  should  be  led  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  into  the  wilderness  to  be  tempted  of  the 
devil !  Yet  comfort  yourselves,  ye  tried  and 
tempted  heirs  of  the  kingdom,  with  this  very 
thing,  for  it  is  recorded  in  Scripture  expressly  for 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  169 

your  consolation.  Neither  imagine  that  the  roar- 
ing lion  goeth  about  in  Israel  unchained  and 
free  ;  or  that  he  has  full  liberty  to  fall  upon 
whomsoever  he  will,  or  that  he  can  throw  his 
fiery  darts  at  pleasure,  and  lay  his  snares  so  un- 
perceived  as  to  escape  your  Saviour's  notice. 
Our  Prince  and  Protector  has  him  always  in  his 
eye,  and  curbs  him  with  a  firm  hand  by  the 
power  of  his  word.  Thus  the  race  is  not  to  the 
swift,  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong.  Powerful  as 
our  adversary  may  be,  he  can  have  no  power 
whatever  ao:ainst  those  concernino:  whom  he  is 
commanded,  "  Touch  not  mine  anointed."  In 
this  single  injunction  of  our  Saviour  there  is  a 
wall  of  fire  surrounding  us,  beyond  which  no 
fiery  dart  of  the  wicked  can  fly.  Every  actual 
assault  upon  us  is  by  the  express  permission  of 
our  Lord  himself,  and  consequently  intended  to 
be  overruled  for  the  soul's  health  and  salvation. 
Hitherto  shall  it  go,  and  no  further.  "  Howbeit  " 
in  all  this  the  wicked  one  "  meaneth  not  so, 
neither  doth  his  heart  think  so  ;"  but  he  is,  in 
fact,  "drawn  out  and  made  a  show  of  openly;'' 
and  our  King  is  "  triumphing  over  him  in  it." 
The  enemy  is  but  one  of  those  principalities  and 
powers,  whether  they  be  in  heaven,  or  earth,  or 
under  the  earth,  with  whom  the  Lord  doeth 
whatsoever  he  will.  He  employs  him  as  he  did 
Sennacherib,  Nebuchadnezzar,  and  others,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  holy  seed.  He  makes  use  of 
him  as  a  staff  in  his  hand,  as  a  rod,  as  a  driver, 


170  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

as  a  chastener ;  and  when  he  has  done  with  him, 
he  breaks  the  staff  of  Israel's  shoulder,  the  rod  of 
his  oppressor,  and  flings  it  from  him  :  he  shuts 
up  the  dragon  in  the  abyss.  Rejoice,  therefore, 
ye  sheep  of  his  flock  ;  for  the  powers  of  darkness, 
though  as  lions  and  wolves  in  their  own  nature, 
are  subject  to  your  Good  Shepherd.  Whenever 
Satan's  fiery  darts  are  hurled  about  you,  think 
that  the  Lord  by  his  Spirit  is  only  conducting 
you  into  the  wilderness,  and  setting  you  in  the 
conflict ;  and  that  he  is  himself  with  you  in  the 
field. 

As  no  temptations  or  trials  can  befall  the  chil- 
dren of  God  without  the  Divine  permission,  so 
they  have  all  one  and  the  same  object.  They 
are  intended  to  show  what  is  in  man  ;  to  bring 
to  light  and  make  manifest  what  is  in  us  as  men, 
and  as  children  of  God.  It  frequently  happens 
that  the  Lord  himself  desires  to  prove  us,  for  he 
taketh  pleasure  in  his  works,  Psa.  civ.  31.  Thus 
he  proved  Abraham ;  but  at  the  critical  moment 
he  called  out  of  heaven,  saying,  "  Now  I  know 
that  thou  fearest  God,  seeing  thou  hast  not  with- 
held thy  son,  thine  only  son  from  me,"  Gen.  xxii. 
12.  He  knew  this  before :  but  he  would  have 
that  fear  of  God,  which  he  had  wrought  in  his 
servant's  heart,  developed,  that  the  Lord  might 
rejoice  in  his  perfected  work.  So,  at  the  present 
day,  many  a  beloved  child  of  grace  is  conducted 
into  severe  trial  and  conflict,  that  he  may  learn 
to  pray,  supplicate,  persevere,  and  walk  by  faith 


THE    DEPTHS   OF    SATAN.  171 

upon  the  waves,  with  his  hand,  as  it  were,  in  the 
hand  of  Jesus.  It  is  true  that  we  are  often  sore 
troubled  at  such  a  season,  and  unable  to  believe 
those  who  testify  that  the  Lord  is  now  delighting 
in  us.  For  real  Christians  can  see  nothing  in 
themselves  for  the  Lord  to  delight  in.  But  the 
Lord  nevertheless  can  see  something  of  the  kind  ; 
and  he  loill  see  it,  because  such  is  his  good  plea- 
sure. 

Furthermore,  he  often  suffers  his  dear  children 
to  be  tempted  and  sorely  tried  in  a  variety  of 
ways,  that  what  is  hidden  in  their  hearts  may  be 
manifested,  not  so  much  to  himself,  as  rather  to 
their  Christian  brethren  and  sisters.  Thus  he 
shows  us  an  Abraham's  faith  ;  a  Job's  patience ; 
a  Moses'  love  and  meekness ;  an  Elijah's  zeal ;  a 
Canaanitish  woman's  humility  and  fervency; 
and  a  Paul's  exultation  in  sufferings ;  that  we 
may  learn  to  glory  in  that  strength  of  his  which 
is  perfected  in  weakness.  Do  we  in  faint-heart- 
edness  imagine  that  such  eminent  saints  may 
well  get  to  heaven,  but  that  with  respect  to  our- 
selves, every  thing  must  certainly  come  to 
nought?  Then  he  tells  us  of  David,  Simon 
Peter,  and  a  cluster  of  others,  from  whom  the 
winepress  of  God  expressed  not  only  wine,  but 
also  bitter  waters  of  sorrow  for  sin  ;  and  thus  he 
revives  our  spirit,  and  imparts  fresh  courage ; 
especially  when  he  reminds  us,  that  David  and 
Peter  still  retained  the  glory  once  put  upon  them, 
when  the  latter  was  designated  "  a  rock,"  and 


172  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

the  former  "  a  man  after  God's  own  heart,"  Acts 
xiii.  22.     It  has  often  happened  that  persons  who 
have  shone  with  remarkable  lustre  of  hohness, 
and  enjoyed  extraordinary  respect  from  the  world, 
have,  at  length,  become  disposed  to  resist,  like 
the  oak,  in  their  own  strength,  the  gusts  of  trial. 
But  these  gusts  have  left  them  stripped  of  their 
honours,  disfigured  and  blasted  ;  and  thus  have 
they  become  monuments  of  our  fallen  nature's 
weakness  and  helplessness.     All  the  lustre  of 
their  holiness,  influence,  and  efficiency,  has  like 
a  brook  been  lost  in  the  sand,  and  has  so  entirely 
disappeared,  that  they  who  had  heretofore  been 
rivers  of  blessing  wherever  they  found  their  way, 
can  now  hardly  be  recognized  as  the  same  per- 
sons.    Now,  such  things  the  Lord  has  suffered  to 
come  to  pass,  that  the  idolatry  with  w^hich  we  are 
too  ready  to  extol  human  nature  may  be  prevent- 
ed ;  that  grace  may  be  preserved  in  its  pure  lustre, 
and  all  honour  and  glory  redound  to  Him  whose 
right  alone  it  is  to  receive  it.     The  more  particu- 
lar intent  of  our  trials  and  temptations  generally 
is,  that  we  may  the  better  learn  what  is  in  us ; 
that  we  may  ever  be  kept  lying  low  as  in  the 
dust.     For  we,  as  children  of  fallen  Adam,  have 
naturally  such  superficial  notions  of  true  piety, 
that  we  would  fain  think  ourselves  possessed  of 
it  at  once,  by  a  cheap  and  easy  method ;  but 
Jesus  would  have  us  learn  that  "  that  which  is 
born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh ;"  that  he  has  to  deal 
with  us  as  persons  radically  ungodly  ;  and  that 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  173 

every  soul  is  of  this  character  whom  he  under- 
takes to  save.     Therefore  he  suffers  the  arrows 
of  the  adversary  again  and  again  to  wound  us, 
that  we  may  be  the  more  wakefully  conscious  of 
sin  dwelling  in  us,  and  that  the  hideousness  and 
ill-savour   of    its    hitherto    unperceived    brood 
of  evils  may  offend  as  it  were  our  very  senses. 
Hence  he  permits  the  wicked  one  occasionally  to 
set  in  motion  the  unholy  dispositions  or  blasphe- 
mous inventiveness  that  lay  slumbering  in  the  in- 
ner chambers  of  the  soul,  that  we  may  perceive 
how  many  abominations  still  remain  to  be  purged 
out  of  the  human  temple  of  God,  and  may  learn 
quite  to  give  up  and  renounce  our  natural  pride 
and  self-esteem.  Job  xxxiii.  17.     For  the  same 
purpose  he  permits  the  adversary  sometimes  to 
come  upon  us  by  surprise,  and  to  sound  a  blast 
of  alarm  over  our  slumbering  lusts.     Then,  how 
are  we  amazed  to  find  old  deformities  still  about 
us  !     Alas  !  we  thought  that  by  our  pious  exer- 
cises we  had  long  ago  dislodged  and  swept  them 
away,  and  that  the  whole  house  was  already  gar- 
nished  with  holiness  ;  but  now  we  find  it  far 
otherwise.     The  beloved  bride  then  learns  that 
she  is  "  black  "  as  well  as  "  comely  ;"  "  like  the 
tents  of  Kedar  "  as  well  as  "  like  the  curtains  of 
Solomon  ;"  and  that  she  has  no  inherent  excel- 
lence of  her    own.     Thus    she    learns    more 
thoroughly  to  repent,  and  remember,  and  do  her 
first  works.     The  Bridegroom  of  the  church  will 
have  it  so.     Therefore,  many  a  saint,  beginning 
15 


174  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

to  indulge  in  self-complacency  concerning  his 
own  supposed  eminence  in  holiness,  finds  the  lof- 
tiest step  of  this  eminence  break  under  him,  and 
himself  prostrated  upon  the  earth,  or  even  plung- 
ed in  the  mire.  He  is  now  more  vile  in  his  own 
eyes  than  he  had  ever  before  imagined.  Like  a 
bird  of  paradise  that  has  lost  its  plumage,  he  is 
now  in  his  own  eyes  naked  and  bare,  and  is  im- 
pelled by  conscious  shame  to  hide  himself  as  in  a 
cleft  of  the  rock,  where  he  learns  by  experience 
what  it  is  to  rejoice  with  all  the  heart,  that  the 
true  bridal  dress  is  of  the  Lord's  oion  choosing 
and  bestowing ;  that  a  cross  once  stood  upon 
Golgotha,  from  which  a  righteousness  has  as- 
cended to  a  throne  ;  ana  that  fallen  men  can  add 
to  it  no  supposed  excellence  of  theirs,  but  must 
simply  and  solely  ascribe  "grace,  grace  unto 
it." 

IV.  The  OBJECT  of  Christ's  temptations. 

We  have  already  seen  why,  in  general,  God 
permits  the  adversary  to  tempt  his  children.  We 
are  next  to  consider,  on  what  account  he  suffered 
the  Lord  Jesus  himself  to  be  tempted.  And  here 
first  we  must  solemnly  protest  against  that  horri- 
bly heretical  notion,  that  Jesus  was  led  into  the 
furnace  of  temptation,  that  by  conflict  and  contest, 
wrestling  and  prayer,  he  might  overcome,  mor- 
tify, and  kill  sin  in  his  own  flesh  !  We  dare  not 
for  a  moment  allow  such  a  thought  respecting 


THE  DEPTHS  OL  SATAN.        176 

our  most  holy  and  blessed  Saviour.  That  God 
sent  to  us  his  own  Son  in  the  likeness  of  sinful 
flesh,  we  know  and  acknowledge ;  but  it  was  in 
the  likeness  onli/,  and  7iot  in  the  sinful  flesh  it- 
self. He  was  in  all  things  made  like  unto  his 
brethren,  Heb.  ii.  17,  with  the  exception  of  one 
point,  and  that  one  point  was  si7i.  God  be  thank- 
ed, that  the  word  of  God  is  as  clear  upon  this  sub- 
ject, as  is  the  light  of  noon  day.  With  the  per- 
fect sinlessness  of  our  great  Mediator,  the  whole 
fabric  of  evangelical  hope  must  stand  or  fall. 
Were  the  white  raiment  of  his  innocence  soiled 
with  the  least  stain  of  an  unholy  attribute,  were 
it  possible  for  heaven,  earth,  or  hell,  to  point  out 
"  any  such  thing  "  in  his  nature,  then  we  should 
have  nothing  to  do  but  to  shut  up  our  churches, 
burn  our  Bibles,  cast  away  our  confidence,  and 
yield  ourselves  up  to  despair.  For  then  could 
Jesus  be  no  Saviour  of  men,  neither  could  the 
payment  he  has  made  for  us  have  any  value  what- 
ever. 

We  have  already  remarked,  that  the  tempta- 
tions which  came  upon  him  were  undergone  en- 
tirely for  our  sakes,  inasmuch  as  they  were  part 
of  his  vicarious  and  sacrificial  sufterings.  We 
have  seen  our  first  parents  tempted  by  the  ser- 
pent ;  and  their  presumption  impelling  them  at 
once  into  the  v/hirlwind  of  the  abyss.  The 
Second  Adam,  having  undertaken  to  retrieve  our 
loss,  was  exposed  to  still  greater  temptation, 
which  nevertheless  he  triumphantly  resisted ;  the 


176        THE  DEPTHS  OP  SATAN. 

lances  of  our  great  adversary  were  broken,  his 
stratagems  and  machinations  completely  defeat- 
ed, and  an  all-perfect  obedience  yielded  to  the 
Father  of  creation  and  providence.     The  first 
Adam,  by  his  disobedience,  made  himself  and  us 
the  enemy's  captives ;  but  the  Second  Adam,  fore- 
going the  throne  of  the  majesty  on  high,  and  de- 
scending into  this  lower  world  amidst  evil  spirits, 
swallowed  up  this  death  in  victory.     Oh,  unex- 
ampled humiliation  !  that  the  Son  of  God  should 
have  been  touched  by  the  murderous  hands  of 
the  devil !  that  the  Heir  of  all  things  should  have 
suffered  the  old  serpent  to  lurk  in  his  path  !  that 
He,  the  Holy  One,  should  have  been  encompass- 
ed by  the  powers  of  darkness  !  that  the  Lord  of 
the  blessed  angels  should  have  suffered  his  human 
person  to  be  seized,  carried  off,  and  borne  away 
by  the  prince  of  the  accursed,  to  hear  his  thrice- 
repeated  temptation  unto  deeds  most  ungodly! 
But  while  it  was  so  admirable  on  the  one  hand, 
it  was  inconceivably  fearful  on  the  other.     The 
children  of  God  are  of  too  narrow  capacity,  and 
too  nearly  allied  to  sin,  to  comprehend  the  infi- 
nite recoil  of  Christ's  holy  soul  from  unholiness  ; 
and  as  for  the  ungodly  and  profane,  they,  being 
children  of  the  wicked  one,  are  too  congenially 
related  to  him,  to  dream  of  the  intensity  of  our 
Saviour's    sufferings    by    temptation.     Yet    to 
such  sufferings  it  behoved  the  Lord's  Anointed 
to  submit :  it  behoved  his  holy  human  nature  to 
shudder  at  the  floods  of  Belial,  that  there  he 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  177 

might  begin  to  remove  our  mountains  of  guilt. 
And  all  these  assaults  he  had  to  encounter  alone  ; 
without  the  least  aid  was  he  to  persevere  through 
conflict  and  warfare  in  doing  the  will  of  God, 
that  by  an  illustrious  and  perfect  obedience  en- 
tirely his  own,  he  might  cover  from  the  eyes  of 
Divine  justice,  the  disobedience  of  Adam  and  his 
posterity. 

Another  object  of   Christ's   temptations  was, 
that  having  suffered  being  tempted,  he  might  be 
able  to  succour  them  that  are  tempted,  Heb.  ii. 
18.     Able  he  certainly  could  have  been,  without 
tasting  of  our  trials,  or  being  personally  assault- 
ed with  our  temptations  ;  but  by  his  actually  un- 
dergoing them,  the  weakest  among  us  may  be 
strengthened  to  believe  in  his  ability,  so  as  to 
have  "more  freedom  in  pouring  out  their  hearts 
before  him  and  in  showing  him  their  trouble.   If 
two  persons  can  meet  and  converse  together  re- 
specting the  same  necessities,  distresses,  and  buf- 
fetings  of  Satan  which  each  has  undergone,  how 
much  does  this  conduce  to  their  open-heartedness 
with  one  another,  to  their  confidential  communi- 
cativeness,  and    to    their    mutual    sympathy  ! 
They  disclose  to  each  other  their  every  inmost 
suffering  ;  soul  melts  into  soul ;  and  while  they 
enjoy  such  refreshment  and  delight,  they  count 
no  time.     With  those  who  are  strangers  to  the 
experience  of  our  peculiar  trials,  we  are  not  so 
readily  communicative  about  them,  because  we 
expect  no  corresponding  sym.pathy.     And  doubt- 
15* 


178  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

less  we  should  have  a  far  less  intimate  commu- 
nion with  our  heavely  Friend,  had  he  not  been 
our  companion  in  tribulation,  and  a  partakerof  our 
every  suffering.  But  now,  how  refreshing  do  we 
find  it  to  know,  that  he  himself  was  in  all  points 
tempted  like  as  we  are  ;  that  he  was  a  Man  of 
sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief;  that  he  well 
knows  by  personal  experience  the  severest  an- 
guish of  our  souls ;  so  that  though  no  fellow- 
mortal  should  be  able  to  understand  us,  we  have 
a  Friend  always  at  hand,  of  whom  we  are  as- 
sured that  he  enters  into  every  feeling  of  our  con- 
dition !  Psa.  Ivi.  8.  His  experience  reaches 
down  into  our  inmost  darkness,  into  the  pro- 
foundest  depths  of  our  spiritual  temptation.  Un- 
der no  juniper  of  the  desert  can  we  sit  solitary, 
but  he  has  there  sat  down  before  us  ;  no  thorn  of 
the  wilderness  can  wound  us,  but  it  has  already 
wounded  him  ;  no  fiery  dart  can  assault  us,  but 
it  has  already  assaulted  him.  Verily,  he  is 
touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities  :  be- 
lieve it  only,  dear  Christian  brethren,  that  when 
the  Refiner  sits  at  his  furnace,  during  the  whole 
process  of  your  trial  and  purification,  his  own 
holy  and  almighty  heart,  more  than  that  of  the 
most  affectionate  mother,  feels  sympathy  for  you 
in  heaven.  Therefore  it  was  out  of  mere  mercy 
and  love  towards  a  world  of  sinners,  that  God 
spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  to 
the  furnace  of  trial. 

It  appears  also,  that  herein  he  had  an  object 


THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN.  179 

with  reference  to  the  tempter  himself ;  on  ac- 
count of  the  distinguished  situation  which  the 
chief  of  the  apostate  angels  occupies  in  the  king- 
dom of  spirits.  If  we  put  together  the  scattered 
notices  of  that  fallen  morning  star,  which  are 
found  in  various  parts  of  Scripture,  we  can  hard- 
ly suppress  our  wonder  and  awe,  at  beholding 
something  of  the  natural  character  of  this  degen- 
erate prince  of  hell. 

Satan,  in  the  surprising  ruins  of  his  former 
unspeakable  glory — for  where  among  men  can  we 
find  intelligence,  prudence,  perseverance,  energy, 
and  power  like  his  ?  and,  what  is  more  aston- 
ishing, these  are  only  the  relics  of  his  original 
glory  ; — Satan,  I  say,  still  appears,  according  to 
the  Bible,  with  a  kind  of  majesty ;  not  only  in  his 
being  called  a  prince,  and  a  mighty  one,  but 
even  "  the  god  of  this  world  ;"  and  we  cannot 
but  observe  in  Scripture,  that  occasionally  a 
kind  of  respect  appears  to  be  paid  to  his  ruined 
dignity.  The  apostle  Jude,  in  a  passage  where 
he  is  producing  a  contrast  to  those  who  despise 
dominion  and  speak  evil  of  dignities  or  magis- 
trates, says,  "  Yet  Michael  the  archangel,  when 
contending  with  the  devil  he  disputed  about  the 
body  of  Moses,  durst  not  bring  against  him  a 
railing  accusation,  but  said,  The  Lord  rebuke 
thee.  But  these  filthy  dreamers  speak  evil  of 
those  things  which  they  know  not,"  Jude  9,  10. 
In  the  book  of  Job,  we  behold  the  sons  of  God 
presenting  themselves  before  Jehovah,  and  it  is 


180        THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN. 

added,  "  Satan  came  also  among  them,  to  present 
himself  before  the  Lord,"  Jobi.  and  ii.  And  the 
Lord  condescended  to  converse  with  him,  and 
to  ask  him  if  he  had  considered  his  servant  Job. 
And'in  reply  to  the  subtle  question  of  the  false 
accuser,  "  Doth  Job  fear  God  for  nought?"  the 
Lord  gave  him  power  over  all  that  belonged  to 
that  holy  man  ;  he  permitted  Satan  to  visit  and 
to  try  him,  that  hell  itself  might  learn  that  Di- 
vine strength  can  be  perfected  in  human  weak- 
ness. What  a  wonderful  transaction  !  Surely 
it  constrains  us  to  say,  that  "  the  Almighty  "  con- 
sidered it  of  some  importance,  that  even  the 
prince  of  darkness  should  acknowledge  Deity, 
and  give  the  Lord  the  glory  due  unto  his  name. 
And  this  is  really  the  case  ;  for  at  his  name 
every  knee  shall  bow,  and  every  tongue  confess 
that  he  is  Lord.  Hence  likewise,  it  appears, 
that  Satan  was  even  permitted  to  look  into  the 
deep  foundation  of  the  work  of  redemption,  es- 
pecially by  tempting  the  Lamb  of  God,  to  try  if  he 
could  find  any  fault  with  his  unblemished  puri- 
ty ;  that  he  might  know  Messiah's  qualifications 
as  a  Surety  to  atone  for  human  transgression  ; 
that  he  might  know,  that  "  Zion  "  is  "  redeemed 
with  righteousness,"  Isa.  i.  27,  and  not  with  ar- 
bitrariness ;  and  that  he  might  never  be  able, 
with  any  show  of  justice,  to  protest  against  the  sal- 
vation of  God's  elect,  Rom.  viii.  33.  When  the 
wisest  and  most  subtle  of  all  rebellious  spirits  is 
compelled  to  astonishment  at  the  wisdom  of  God, 


THE    DEPTHS    OF   SATAN.  181 

to  admire  his  doings,  to  wonder  in  mute  silence 
at  the  depth  of  his  counsels,  to  commend,  as^ainst 
his  will  and  inclination,  the  equity  of  Divine 
proceedings,  and  to  give  honour  to  God  unto  his 
own  confusion,  this  surely  tends  not  a  little  to 
the  glory  of  the  Divine  name.  One  of  the  most 
solemn  and  sublime  moments  in  the  great  day  of 
full  manifestation  will  be,  when  Satan  himself 
shall  be  compelled  to  yield  acknowledgment  that 
the  Lamb  is  worthy  to  receive  glory,  and  honour, 
and  power.  Rev.  v.  13;  and  shall  feel  constrain- 
ed to  bow  at  the  name  of  another  who  is 
greater  than  he.  This  will  amount  to  a  con- 
summation of  praise  second  only  to  the  halle- 
lujahs of  angels. 

V.  The  tempter. 

Forty  days  and  nights  of  fasting  had  been 
spent  by  our  Saviour  in  the  lonely  wilderness, 
and  "  he  was  afterward  an  hungered."  Then 
the  tempter  came  unto  him,  visibly,  but  in  dis- 
guise, probably  as  "an  angel  of  light,"  2  Cor.  xi. 
14.  He  appears  to  have  had  a  twofold  object  in 
this  attempt.  First,  Satan  desired  to  ascertain 
whether  Jesus  was  really  the  Son  of  God  ;  and 
secondly,  in.  case  he  were,  he  meditated  to  raise 
up  a  rock  in  his  course,  upon  which  the  pre- 
cious work  of  redemption  should  be  wrecked  for 
ever. 

It  is  very  probable,  as  others  have  thought  like- 


182 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 


wise,  that  the  tempter  was  yet  in  doubt  whether 
this  was  the  Messiah.  Jesus,  who  was  called 
"  the  carpenter's  son,"  had  lived  on  earth  thirty- 
years  in  great  obscurity,  probably  working  at  the 
trade  of  his  reputed  father  ;  thus  "  in  the  sweat 
of  his  face,"  earning  his  daily  bread  ;  during  all 
which  time,  we  are  not  told  that  he  did  or  said 
any  thing  beyond  what  other  children  of  men 
might  have  done  or  said  ;  except  what  is  record- 
ed of  him  with  respect  to  his  visit  to  the  temple, 
when  he  was  twelve  years  old.  "  His"  general 
"  kinsfolk  and  acquaintance,"  probably,  had  long 
begun  to  think  of  him  as  no  more  than  an  amia- 
ble man  ;  and  it  is  possible  that  even  Mary  and 
Joseph  had  considerably  lowered  their  expecta- 
tions concerning  him,  as  all  the  miraculous  cir- 
cumstances of  his  life  had  long:  ^so  ceased ;  and 
the  voices  from  heaven  been  discontinued.  God 
veiled  the  peculiar  glory  of  his  Son  in  such  a 
manner,  that  even  the  keen  eyes  of  Satan  might 
be  unable  to  discern  it  in  the  plain  "  carpenter, 
the  son  of  Mary,"  Mark  vi.  3.  This  great  ad- 
versary, however,  did  not  entirely  overlook  him. 
And  though,  among  men,  no  one  appeared  any 
longer  to  im.agine  that  the  humble  labourer  at 
Joseph's  business  could  be  God's  Messiah,  yet 
Satan  himself  was  wise  enough  not  to  lay  too 
much  stress  upon  a  poor  and  humble  exterior. 
He  could  think  it  possible,  that  this  "  carpenter" 
in  all  his  obscurity  might  nevertheless  be  the 
Lord  of  glory.    He  would  see  nothing  inconsist- 


THE    DEPTHS    OF   SATAN.  183 

ent  or  absurd  in  the  Redeemer's  having  to  com- 
mence his  great  work  in  such  poverty  and  low- 
liness ;  and  many  a  strange  event  and  circum- 
stance, which  he  had  observed  in  his  history 
from  its  commencement,  would  intimate  to  him 
too  plainly  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  could  be  no 
other  than  the  Son  of  God.  Still,  however,  he 
only  conjectured  this  verity  ;  he  had  not  yet  that 
clear  conviction  of  it,  which  a  fallen  archangel 
would  require  ;  therefore  he  desired  to  obtain  full 
certainty,  that  he  might  take  his  measures  accord- 
ingly .  Had  he  at  present  actually  discerned  him 
as  the  Messiah,  much  of  his  subsequent  conduct 
toward  him,  would,  as  we  shall  hereafter  see,  be 
inexplicable.  His  first  and  immediate  object, 
therefore,  was  to  ascertain  this.  Very  prudent- 
ly did  the  crafty  spirit  so  preconcert  his  tempta- 
tions, that  if  Jesus  was  really  the  Messiah,  his 
work  of  redemption  might  meet,  at  the  outset, 
with  a  shock  by  which  it  should  be  for  ever  frus- 
trated. The  ultimate  object  of  the  prince  of  dark- 
ness was  by  an  adroit  manoeuvre  to  divert  the 
Saviour  from  his  mediatorial  career,  and  thus  to 
confirm  his  own  infernal  dominion  over  man- 
kind. He  therefore  presents  himself  to  Jesus,  as 
a  well-wishing  and  kind-hearted  friend.  He 
would  have  it  appear  that  he  desired  nothing  so 
much  as  to  see  the  great  work  of  redemption 
prospered  and  achieved  ;  only  he  professes  to 
suggest  a  shorter  method  of  accomplishing  the 
glorious  design  ;  and  he  plans  all  with  the  very 


184        THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN. 

craft  and  subtlety  that  might  be  expected  from  a 
being,  who  with  the  strongest  natural  power  of 
intellect,  had  sunk  into  the  deepest  abysses  of 
wickedness  and  malignity. 

VI.  Liability  to  temptation. 

The  tempter  came  to  Jesus  with  the  most  re- 
fined cunning  and  artifice.  Trusting  that  the 
forlornness  of  the  solitude,  and  the  barrenness  of 
the  thirsty  desert,  would  be  helpful  to  the  tri- 
umph he  meditated,  he  seizes  the  opportunity  for 
his  first  attack,  from  the  hunger  spoken  of  in  the 
text.  In  like  manner  does  this  murderer  of  souls 
know  how  to  turn  his  weapons  against  ourselves, 
in  the  most  convenient  place,  at  the  most  critical 
moment,  and  in  circumstances  the  most  favoura- 
ble to  his  purpose.  When  we  are  apart  from  all 
company,  and  no  human  eye  can  be  upon  us, 
when  no  dear  brother  is  near  to  put  us  on  our 
guard,  nor  any  experienced  fellow  Christain  at 
hand  to  confirm  or  animate  us ;  when  our 
thoughts  are  permitted  to  wander  at  pleasure, 
then  does  this  "  strong  one  armed"  come  up  to 
the  attack,  stretches  his  arrow  upon  the  bow,  and 
exerts  his  utmost  skill  to  inject  poison  into  our 
very  hearts.  When  we  are  all  hungered  or 
athirst ;  when  want  pinches  us,  and  we  feel  a 
craving  either  for  money  or  sustenance ;  when 
real  need  of  rest,  or  imaginary  want  of  repose, 
leisure,  honour,  convenience,  or  enjoyment,  stirs 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  185 

within  us  an  uneasy  longing  for  the  thing  de- 
nied ;  when  any  particular  wish,  though  in  itself 
not  blameable,  takes  possession  of  our  hearts  ; 
— then  is  the  tempter  immediately  at  hand,  ad- 
dressing the  passions  in  a  friendly  and  winning 
manner,  suggesting  to  us  one  good  reason  after 
another,  and  discovering  to  us  means  in  abun- 
dance for  the  gratification  of  our  desires.  And, 
however  adverse  the  thing  may  be  to  the  will  of 
our  Father  in  heaven,  Satan  knows  so  well  how 
to  garnish  and  colour  it,  that  we  are  easily 
brought  even  to  imagine  peace  and  prosperity 
are  with  us,  when  it  is  nothing  less  than  "  Satan 
himself  transformed  into  an  angel  of  light." 

The  mystery  of  his  iniquity,  craft,  and  guile, 
which,  humanly  speaking,  is  unsearchable,  had 
never  been  so  disclosed  as  it  now  was,  in  those 
temptations  with  which  he  endeavoured  to  cir- 
cumvent our  blessed  Lord.  But  it  may  be  ask- 
ed. Could  the  Christ  of  God  be  tempted  in  reali- 
ty? The  Scripture  informs  us,  that  he  was  not 
merely  tempted,  but  in  all  things*  tempted  like  as 
we  are,  only  without  sin,  Heb.  iv.  15.  Our  bless= 
ed  Saviour,  the  Scripture  saith,  was  manifested 
in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh  j  that  is,  in  human 
nature  weakened  by  the  fall.  He  inherited  every 
injury  which  sin  had  done  it,  only  no  disposition 

*  Luther,  from  holy  reverence,  appears  to  have  stood  in  awe 
ofrenderhig  Ka-a  iravra  by  so  strong  an  expression  as  "  f/i  all 
things?''  His  rendering  is,  allenthalben,  "  in  all  places,''^  "  every 
wherCf"  or  "  on  every  hand." 

16 


186  THE    DEPTHS   OF    SATAN. 

to  sin  itself;  no  capacity,  no  capability  of  sin- 
ning. Hence  we  read,  that  he  was  tempted 
without  sin.  But  if  there  be  any  sinless  in- 
stincts and  infirmities  of  our  common  nature, 
these  undoubtedly  he  inherited.  He  was  sus- 
ceptible of  hunger  and  thirst ;  he  could  be  weary 
and  overtaken  with  sleep ;  he  could  weep  and 
rejoice  ;  he  could  feel  tlie  need  of  bodily  rest 
and  refreshment.  Now,  such  infirmities  and 
sensibilities,  which  in  themselves  are  sinless,  the 
tempter  hoped  to  take  advantage  of,  in  order  to 
seduce  our  all  holy  and  blessed  Saviour  from 
the  way  of  God  marked  out  before  him.  He 
therefore  propounded  to  him  such  ways  and 
means  of  satisfying  those  wants,  as  were  alto- 
gether incongruous  with  God's  way.  Had  the 
Redeemer  acceded  to  them,  or  been  ever  so  re- 
motely inclined  to  them,  Satan's  monstrous 
wickedness  would  have  succeeded ;  the  Lamb 
would  not  have  been  without  spot,  nor  the  High- 
Priest  without  sin  ;  his  sacrifice  would  have 
been  invalid,  the  whole  scheme  of  redemption 
would  have  been  for  ever  annulled,  and  we  our- 
selves exposed  to  perish,  and  that  without  reme- 
dy. How  much  then  depended  on  the  result  of 
this  temptation  of  Jesus  in  the  wilderness ! 
What  an  immeasurably  important  trial  was  it 
to  be,  of  our  Redeemer's  qualifications !  And 
what  interest  ought  we  to  feel  in  attending  to 
the  further  developement  and  issue  of  that  extra- 
ordinary and  eventful  transaction ! 


THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN.  187 

TIL  The  first  assault. 

The  tempter  had  watched  the  most  favourable 
opportunity  for  making  his  first  attack.  He  per- 
ceived that  Jesus  was  an  "  hungered  ;"  therefore 
he  came  to  him,  and  said,  "If  thou  be  the  Son 
of  God,  command  that  these  stones  be  made 
bread."  Here  was  the  first  of  those  assaults  by 
which  the  tempter  meant  to  ascertain  whether 
this  was  the  very  person  of  the  promised  Messi- 
ah ;  and  then  (in  case  he  were  really  the  Lord 
from  heaven)  to  annihilate  at  one  blow  his  work 
of  sacrificial  atonement.  The  devil's  aim  was  to 
begin  with  polluting,  had  it  been  possible,  the 
pure  human  soul  of  the  Redeemer  with  the  sin 
of  distrusting  his  heavenly  Father's  provision. 
As  he  commenced  his  assaults  in  paradise  with 
the  question,  "  Yea,  hath  God  said  ?"  to  seduce 
our  first  parents  into  error  respecting  the  Divine 
prohibition;  so  his  words,  "If  thou  be  the  Son 
of  God,"'  were  meant  to  be  equivalent  to  that 
question.  His  first  object  was  to  create  a  doubt 
respecting  the  import  of  that  testimony  which 
had  recently  descended  on  our  Saviour  at  his 
baptism,  '•  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I 
am  well- pleased."  And  now,  only  observe  the 
wondrous  craft  of  the  tempter.  In  that  single 
sentence,  "  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  command 
that  these  stones  be  made  bread,"  he  lays  a  thou- 
sand snares  in  our  Saviour's  path  at  once.  He 
would  first  insinuate  how  impossible  it  must  be 


188  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

that  God  should  leave  his  own  Son  in  the  wilder- 
ness, among  rocks  and  stones  and  thorns,  to  pine 
away  with  hunger  ;  and  could  our  Saviour  have 
given  the  least  entertainment  to  this  suggestion, 
his  soul  would  have  been  defiled  with  unbelief. 
Further,  he  would  induce  him  to  work  such  a 
miracle  in  proof  of  his  being  the  Son  of  God,  as 
should  serve  also  his  relief  from  hunger  and  suf- 
fering  ;  and  this  he  knew  would  be  acting  against 
the  counsel  of  God,  according  to  which  the  Mes- 
siah was  to  be  poor,  suffering,  and  emptied  of  his 
glory  to  compensate  for  Adam's  guilt.  But  the 
devil  might  further  think,  that  should  he  not 
succeed  in  persuading  our  blessed  Lord  to  for- 
sake the  way  of  poverty,  to  step  aside  from  the 
path  of  lowliness,  and  disclose  his  real  dignity, 
yet  perhaps  the  pressure  of  hunger  might  prevail 
on  him  to  comply  with  the  suggestion  of  work- 
ing a  miracle  for  his  own  relief ;  that  it  would 
seem  an  excusable  thing  to  save  himself  from 
starvation  by  the  power  committed  to  him  ;  and 
that  by  thus  helping  himself  he  would  put  away 
from  him  that  cup  of  bitterness,  the  drinking  up 
of  which  to  the  very  dregs  was  essential  to  his 
making  reconciliation  for  iniquity.  Such  were 
apparently  the  thoughts  of  Satan ;  he  hoped  that 
Jesus,  if  he  overcame  the  first  snare,  would  be 
taken  in  the  second  or  the  third.  With  more 
subtlety  the  plan  could  not  have  been  laid.  Had 
there  been  the  smallest  blemish  of  sin  in  the 
Lamb  of  God,  it  would  not  have  been  discover- 


THE    DEPTHS   OP    SATAN.  189 

ed.  But  not  a  sunbeam  mote  settles  upon  the 
white  raiment  of  his  perfect  innocence.  He  stood 
alone  in  the  field  of  conflict;  and  saw  that  there 
was  no  man  to  help,  none  to  uphold.  Neverthe- 
less he  broke  the  "  power  of  the  enemy :"  the 
devil  was  disappointed,  and  Jesus  triumphed. 

The  temptation  to  command  stones  to  be  made 
bread,  will,  if  spiritually  considered,  be  found  a 
most  common  one  every  day.  All  the  experien- 
ced children  of  God  have  known  something  of  it. 
There  are  brethren  amongst  us,  and  they  are 
brethren  in  the  Lord,  to  whom,  nevertheless,  a 
fast  is  proclaimed  at  tho  present  season.  They  are 
out  of  regular  employment,  and  can  earn  little  or 
next  to  nothing;  some  are  masters  in  business,  but 
their  business  does  not  prosper.  They  have  to 
be  concerned  how  to  obtain  their  daily  bread. 
Brethren,  ye  sit  in  the  wilderness  among  the 
stones  and  thorns,  and  ye  are  "  an  hungered." 
Now,  would  it  not  be  a  wonder  if  the  tempter 
did  not  insinuate  his  way  to  you,  and  suggest, 
Canst  thou  be  a  child  of  God,  who  thus  suffers 
thee  to  starve  ?  This  suggestion  is  soon  follow- 
ed up  by  another,  "  Command  that  these  stones 
be  made  bread."  It  would  be  a  wonder  indeed  if 
he  did  not  ply  you  with  every  unbelieving  sug- 
gestion, such  as  either  that  you  ought  to  make 
less  scruple  about  principle,  for  the  sake  of  em- 
ployment, or  of  standing  upon  good  terms  with 
patrons  and  friends  ;  or  that  it  is  not  necessary 
to  be  so  strict  to  truth,  where  your  interest  is  at 
16* 


190 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 


Stake,  or  the  maintenance  of  your  family  is  con- 
cerned ;  that  you  may  very  pardonably  put  your 
hand  to  some  unlawful  business,  to  save  your- 
selves from  starvation ;  or  that  it  is  good  policy 
to  join  some  worldly  and  unchristian  party,  that 
may  help  to  keep  you  from  going  down  in  the 
world  ;  or  that  you  ought  to  "  try  your  fortune," 
as  it  is  called,  in  the  lottery  of  some  questionable 
speculation.  Now,  this  is  the  same  as  if  Satan 
persuaded  you  in  so  many  words  to  command 
these  stones  that  they  be  made  bread.  But,  my 
dear  brethren  in  Christ,  let  the  stones  be  stones ; 
suffer  them  to  remain  as  they  are  ;  but  look  for 
your  bread  and  support  from  your  heavenly  Fa- 
ther alone^  who  hath  promised  you  far  greater 
and  better  things  than  this.  By  Him  "  the  hairs 
of  your  head  are  all  numbered,"  and  he  willeth 
not  that  "one  of  his  little  ones  should  perish." 

But  if  things  come  to  what  is  termed  the  worsts 
is  it  not  much  better  to  starve  in  God's  name, 
than  to  see  good  days  in  the  name  of  his  enemy 
and  yours  1  The  days  of  fasting  will  soon  be 
over — as  soon  as  they  have  produced  that  ma- 
turity of  your  spiritual  life  for  which  they  are 
appointed.  Take  courage,  then,  and  "be  of 
good  cheer  ;"  for  though  you  are  abiding  at  pres- 
ent in  the  wilderness,  it  is  that  you  may  see  the 
faithfulness  and  glory  of  the  Lord  ;  and  general- 
ly, these  have  better  been  discovered  in  the  great 
and  terrible  wilderness,  than  in  the  land  flowing 
with  milk  and  honey. 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  191 

There  are  others  amongst  us  who  at  present 
are  requited  for  their  very  piety  with  scorn  and 
derision,  and  have  little  joy  or  refreshment  in 
their  own  souls.  Would  it  not  be  a  wonder  if 
Satan  did  not  interpose,  and  suggest  to  such  that 
in  Christianity  there  is  little  or  nothing  after  all, 
that  he  may  thus  beguile  them  into  the  world's 
spirit  and  pursuits,  in  quest  of  that  joy  which 
they  find  not  in  God  ?  Brethren,  all  such  coun- 
sel is  from  Satan,  and  in  giving  it  he  virtually 
advises  us  to  change  stones  of  suffering,  and 
spiritual  barrenness,  into  bread  of  our  own 
choosing,  bread  which  has  no  savour  of  tlie  bread 
of  life.  Far  rather  let  us  prefer  spending  our 
few  remaining  days  with  Christ,  not  only  in  a 
wilderness,  if  it  must  be  so,  but  in  the  furnace  it- 
self, rather  than  have  recourse  to  any  relief  pro- 
posed by  the  adversary. 

"  The  Lord  rebuke  thee,  O  Satan."  Let  this 
be  our  watchword  in  the  field  of  conflict,  when- 
ever we  perceive  the  enemy  approaching.  God 
be  thanked,  that  whereas  the  true  Michael  hath 
encountered  him,  and  overcome  him,  his  positive 
dominion  over  us  is  annihilated.  It  is  true  he 
can  still  buffet  us,  and  make  such  a  push  at  us 
as  to  occasion  giddiness,  sickness,  and  a  fall ;  but 
destroy  us  he  cannot.  Though  he  may  lurk  as 
a  lion  about  our  tabernacle,  the  Lord  hath  put 
"  a  hook  in  his  nose  and  a  bridle  in  his  lips." 
The  prince  of  Judah,  the  Captain  of  our  salva- 
tion, has  both  him  and  all  his  agents  under  abso- 


192  THE    DEPTHS   OF    SATAN. 

lute  control,  and  appoints  them  their  bounds, 
which  they  cannot  pass.  Only  let  us  abide  in 
our  strong-hold,  in  the  atonement  of  Christ's 
blood,  and  we  are  safe. 

VIII.    The  CHIEF  WEAPON. 

The  weapon  with  which  Jesus  triumphed, 
was  the  word  of  God.  The  Bible  is  a  spiritual 
armoury,  hung  with  swords  and  lances,  blazon- 
ed shields,  bright  breast-plates  and  helmets.  No 
good  soldier  of  Christ  ever  gained  a  victory,  but 
he  first  furnished  himself  from  this  armoury. 
The  mere  sling-stones  obtained  from  thence, 
have  felled  many  a  Goliath  to  the  earth.  Who- 
ever makes  a  proper  use  of  his  free  access  to  it, 
fails  not  to  withstand  the  tempter,  who  is  over- 
awed by  God's  word.  Hence,  from  the  begin- 
ning, it  has  been  his  endeavour  either  to  weaken 
its  force,  or  to  exclude  it  from  us  entirely.  What 
false  reasoning  has  the  arch-sophist  left  untried  ! 
What  fine  argument  has  he  brought  into  credit 
with  the  world,  to  make  the  word  of  God  sus- 
pected, to  render  it  dubious,  or  to  deprive  it  of  its 
paramount  authority  !  What  impious  falsehoods 
has  he,  by  his  agents,  circulated  abroad,  against 
the  genuineness  and  authenticity  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures !  Not  a  single  book  of  the  Old  or 
New  Testament  has  that  wicked  one  left  unat- 
tacked ;  not  a  single  miracle  recorded  therein 
has  he  been  ashamed  to  treat  as  fabulous  ;  not  a 


THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN.  193 

single  Divine  promise  therein  registered  has  he 
not  endeavowred  to  make  of  "  none  eifect."  And 
still  to  this  day  is  he  busy,  by  his  instruments 
and  ministers,  by  false  prophets,  learned  profes- 
sors, and  others,  as  well  as  personally,  by  imme- 
diate whispers  and  suggestions  of  his  own,  to 
unsettle  men's  minds  respecting  the  infallibility 
of  the  written  word ;  for  this  word  has  often 
proved  his  overthrow.  But  "resist  the  devil, 
and  he  will  flee  from  you  ;"  turn  a  deaf  ear  to 
his  insinuations  and  reasonings.  "He  was  a 
murderer  from  the  beginning,  and  abode  not  in 
the  truth,  because  there  is  no  truth  in  him. 
When  he  speaketh  a  lie,  he  speaketh  of  his  own  : 
for  he  is  a  liar  and  the  father  of  it,"  John  viii.  44. 
But  some  may  wish  to  know,  in  what  manner 
the  word  of  God  is  of  such  eminent  service  in 
temptations.  Let  us  then  observe,  that  when- 
ever Sa^an  would  entangle  and  seduce  us,  his 
first  endeavour  is  to  confound  our  notions  of 
truth  and  falsehood.  What  is  wrong  he  repre- 
sents as  right,  what  is  merely  human  as  Divine, 
what  is  unholy  and  bad  as  holy  and  good.  He 
would  turn  the  truth  of  God  into  a  lie,  and  the 
lie  of  man  into  the  truth  of  God  ;  and  in  propor- 
tion as  he  thus  dazzles  and  deceives  us,  in  the 
same  proportion  we  do  his  will,  and  even  think 
perhaps  that  we  are  "doing  God  service."  But 
in  this  "  deceivableness  of  unrighteousness"  he 
can  never  succeed,  if  we  implicitly  believe  in 
God's  written  word  :  for  this  will  ever  teach  us  in 


194  THE    DEPTHS    OF   SATAN. 

the  plainest  terms,  how  to  distinguish  right  from 
wrong,  and  truth  from  falsehood.  It  will  show 
us  in  every  case  what  we  ought  to  do,  think,  or 
say,  agreeably  to  the  Divine  will. 

Take  the  case  of  a  Christain  minister.  The 
adversary  would  sap  away  all  efficacy  from  our 
preaching,  and  he  sets  about  it  in  a  very  insidi- 
ous manner.  He  suggests  to  us,  that  surely  we 
may  preach  a  little  more  charitably^  not  making 
the  way  to  heaven  quite  so  narrow  nor  the  gate 
quite  so  strait :  that  thus  our  congregations  will 
be  far  better  disposed  to  hear  us  ;  that  many 
whose  prejudices  we  now  only  strengthen 
against  the  truth,  may  thus  be  gained  ;  and 
whatever  other  agreeable  arguments  to  that  ef- 
fect can  be  suggested,  the  wily  deceiver  well 
knows  how  to  time  and  to  apply.  If  now  "the 
man  of  God"  parley  with  such  suggestions,  lean- 
ing to  his  own  understanding,  and  having  no 
better  guard  than  his  own  opinion,  he  is  en- 
snared at  once,  and  the  proposal  will  appear 
quite  reasonable  and  good,  for  Satan  is  far  wiser 
than  we  are.  But  if  the  minister  of  God  depend 
only  the  more  wakeful ly  on  God's  word  itself,  if 
his  faith  being  thus  in  vigorous  exercise,  he  can 
reply  to  every  such  Satanic  proposal,  It  is  writ- 
ten, "  Strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way, 
which  leadeth  unto  life  ;"  and  again,  "  Though 
we,  or  an  angel  from  heaven,  preach  any  other 
gospel  than  that  ye  have  received,  let  him  be  ac- 
cursed," Gal.  i.  8,  9,  then  the  adversary  can  do 


THE    DEPTHS   OP   SATAN.  195 

nothing.  Such  bold  affiance  in  the  word  of  God 
with  the  believing  reply,  "It  is  written,"  will 
compel  the  enemy  to  retreat. 

Take  another  instance.  The  tempter  would 
bring  you  to  doubt  whether  Christianity  be  the 
exchisive  means  of  a  sinner's  everlasting  happi- 
ness. Therefore  he  carries  you  suddenly  to 
some  lofty  height  of  thought,  and  shows  you 
millions  of  souls  in  the  church  as  well  as  in  the 
heathen  world,  who  are  yet  without  Christ;  and 
then  he  begins  solemnly  to  address  you,  and  to 
ask  whether  you  really  beheve  that  such  countless 
multitudes  of  your  fellow-men  are  all  in  the  way 
of  perdition  ;  and  whether  your  understanding 
or  your  heart  can  assent  to  this.  "  Yet  all  those 
persons,"  saith  he,  "believe  not  in  Jesus ;  at  least 
not  as  you  do  and  others  like  you.  Can  then 
Christ  be  absolutely  the  only  way  to  heaven  1 
Must  that  which  you  call  the  new  birth  be  so 
essential  to  salvation  ?  Or  rather,  is  it  not  that 
your  own  sentiments  are  far  too  narrow,  illiberal, 
and  uncharitable  upon  this  matter  V  Such  are 
his  suggestions ;  and  if  you  have  no  better 
armour  against  them  than  your  natural  reason, 
you  will  imagine  that  the  deceiver  has  given  you 
the  proper  view  of  the  subject,  and  he  will  triumph 
in  having  made  your  footing  to  slip  from  under 
you.  But  if  you  can  lay  your  hand  upon  God's 
word,  and  meet  the  tempter  with  one  saying  of 
it,  replying,  It  is  written,  "  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  you,  Except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot 


196  THE    DEPTHS  OF    SATAN. 

see  the  kingdom  of  God ;"  It  is  written/'  I  am  the 
way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life  :  no  man  cometh 
unto  the  Father  but  by  me  ;"  It  is  written, "  Strait 
is  the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way,  which  leadeth 
unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it ;"  "  Many 
are  called,  but  few  are  chosen ;" — if  you  can 
believingly  hold  fast  by  such  Divine  declarations 
as  these,  then  is  the  adversary  defeated,  his  snare 
is  broken,  and  he  will  cease  from  attempting  to 
persuade  you  that  Christ  is  not  the  sole  foundation 
of  our  peace  with  God  ;  unless  he  attempt  to  ren- 
der suspected  the  written  word  itself  wherein 
you  trust. 

Take  another  example.  He  wishes,  we  will 
suppose,  to  bring  you  back  into  the  world  ;  and 
how  would  he  do  it  ?  He  gently  insinuates,  that 
true  religion  does  not  require  you  to  stand  aloof 
from  your  former  companions,  or  to  be  so  shy  of 
the  society  of  those  whose  opinions  may  a  little 
differ  from  your  own:  that  Christian  charity 
teaches  quite  another  lesson  ;  that  it  is  your  duty 
now  and  then  to  go  into  the  world,  that  you  may 
let  your  light  shine  before  men,  to  prevent  religion 
from  being  slandered  as  belonging  exclusively  to 
monks  and  misanthropists,  and  to  show  that  piety 
is  sociable  and  cheerful,  than  which  nothing  is 
more  necessary  for  gaining  the  hearts  of  others 
to  its  cause.  Yea,  that  even  for  your  own  exer- 
cise and  confirmation  in  holiness,  it  is  your  duty 
not  to  withdraw  from  the  world  ;  for  what  is 
there  in  being  holy,  where  there  are  no  temp- 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  197 

tations  or  allurements  to  the  contrary  ?  whereas, 
to  meet  evil  in  the  face,  and  to  be  able  to  resist 
it  wherever  we  see  it,  is  to  play  the  man  and  the 
Christian.  Such  are  the  reasonings  of  our  great 
adversary ;  and  they  are  very  congenial  with  the 
disposition  of  our  fallen  nature.  Now,  if  you 
attempt  to  dispute  such  a  matter  with  him  with 
your  own  wisdom,  you  will  certainly  be  perplexed 
and  overcome  ;  for  no  shrewd  sophist  is  so  subtle 
in  reasoning  as  he  is.  He  knows  how  to  make 
the  most  foolish  thing  appear  most  plausible  and 
rational.  But  if  you  have  faith  in  the  word  of 
God,  and  trusting  in  it  you  can  reply,  It  is  written, 
"Be  not  conformed  to  this  world,"  he  is  then 
defeated,  for  you  have  struck  the  dagger  out  of 
his  hand.  Thus  the  word  of  God,  when  grasped 
with  a  firm  hold  of  faith,  is  found  to  be  a  strong 
"  sword  of  the  Spirit,"  wherewith  we  "  wound  the 
dragon."  Even  the  ten  commandments,  when 
written  in  the  heart,  and  uttered  against  him,  are 
sufficient  to  repel  the  enemy.  Against  this 
roaring  lion  they  are  like  ten  weapons  such  as 
Samson's,  or  ten  swords  such  as  Michael's. 

For  observe  how  the  blessed  Saviour  overcame 
him.  The  counsel  of  the  tempter  was,  that  Je- 
sus should  form  stones  into  bread,  and  thus,  by 
self-assistance,  obtain  relief  from  the  pain  of  hun- 
ger. With  this  insidious  and  ensnaring  counsel 
there  was  much,  humanly  speaking,  to  induce 
our  Saviour  to  comply  :  and  could  he  have  done 
so  the  work  of  redemption  had  been  nullified  at 
U 


198  THE    DEPTHS    OF   SATAN. 

once.  But  he  listened  to  no  such  counsel.  He 
let  the  stones  remain  stones,  and  suffered  his 
own  hunger  to  continue.  What  then  was  it 
which  he  so  regarded,  that  he  couid  not  follow 
the  crafty  advice  of  this  pretended  friend  1  It 
was  the  word  of  God.  His  inward  eye  was  di- 
rected to  what  is  written  in  the  eighth  chapter 
of  Deuteronomy :  he  grasps  it  with  steadfast 
faith,  and  opposes  it  to  the  tempter :  "  It  is 
written,  Man  liveth  not  by  bread  alone,  but  by 
every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of 
God."  In  this  Divine  saying,  he  finds  motive 
enough  to  suffer  another  hunger  of  forty  days 
and  nights,  or  longer,  if  necessary,  rather  than 
forego  his  Father's  help  through  any  distrustful 
frowardness.  It  is  as  if  he  had  said,  "  My  hea- 
venly Father,  who  conducted  me  into  this  wil- 
derness, can  sustain  me  in  it  without  bread  ;  it  is 
in  Him  that  I  trust."  Thus  was  he  armed  as 
with  an  impervious  breast-plate.  The  enemy 
was  obliged  to  try  another  temptation  ;  for  the 
present  attempt  was  utterly  unavailing.  Any 
seduction  of  our  Saviour  to  self  assistance  for 
throwing  off  what,  as  our  Surety,  he  must  needs 
endure  on  account  of  Adam's  transgression,  was 
found  hopeless.  His  faith  fed  upon  the  word  of 
God,  and  he  experienced  that  his  heavenly  Fa- 
ther could  sustain  liim  in  the  extremest  want  of 
nature's  supplies,  by  a  single  word  which  had 
proceeded  out  of  his  mouth.  And  if  we,  by  the 
like  precious  faith,  hold  fast  the  word  of  life,  the 
enemy  can  gain  no  advantage  over  us. 


THE    DEPTHS   OP    SATAN.  199 

The  word  of  Scripture,  with  which  Jesus  baf- 
fled the  tempter,  was  uttered  by  Moses,  when,  by 
Divine  commission,  he  reminded  the  children  of 
Israel  at  the  borders  of  the  promised  land,  how 
faithfully  and  graciously  the  Lord  had  conduct- 
ed them  forty  years  in  the  wilderness.  "  He 
humbled  thee,  and  suffered  thee  to  huno^er,  and 
fed  thee  with  manna,  which  thou  knewest  not, 
neither  did  thy  fathers  know  ;  that  he  might 
make  thee  know  that  man  doth  not  live  by  bread 
only,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of 
the  mouth  of  Jehovah."  So  true  is  it  that  the 
Lord,  though  he  generally  employs  human 
means,  can  sustain  his  children  without  them. 
He  has  rained  bread  from  the  clouds  rather  than 
suffered  them  to  famish  :  and  he  can  send  abun- 
dant supplies  in  the  night  to  "  his  beloved,"  even 
while  they  sleep,  Psa.  cxxvii.  2.  This  he  did  at 
the  brook  Cherith  for  Elijah,  and  something 
like  it  at  Zarephath  for  the  widow's  household  ; 
and  thus  has  he  done  in  many  other  places  be- 
sides. He  has  so  wrought  as  to  evince  that 
it  is  not  merely  his  outward  staff  of  bodily 
bread  which  supports  us  ;  that  this  is  not  the 
thing  whereon  our  life  depends;  but  that  it 
is  his  word,  his  will,  his  blessing,  his  secret 
power,  accompanying  the  outward  means,  that 
really  nurtures,  strengthens,  and  sustains.  If 
the  bread  we  eat  become  sustenance  to  us,  it  is 
because  He  hath  willed  it  to  be  so  ;  and  when 
that  is  no  longer  his  good  pleasure,  though  we 


200 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 


knead  and  prepare  ourselves  bread  as  we  please, 
it  nurtures  us  not,  but  we  pine  in  the  midst  of 
superfluities.  From  the  sustaining  power  being- 
not  in  the  bread,  but  only  in  God's  word  and 
will,  we  can  account  for  Elijah's  going  in  the 
strength  of  one  meal  forty  days  and  forty  nights 
unto  Horeb  the  mount  of  God,  1  Kings  xix.  7, 8  : 
and  for  his  daily  supplying,  supporting,  and  sat- 
isfying many  a  poor  family,  who  for  long  seasons 
together  have  nothing  morning  or  evening  ex- 
cept a  morsel  of  dry  bread  or  a  few  vegetables, 
and  a  draught  of  water.  Neither  let  us  imagine 
that  the  Lord  has  need  even  of  these  for  the  sup- 
port of  his  people.  His  simple  word,  "  They 
shall  live,"  is  sufficient,  if  it  so  pleases  him.  As 
he  sustained  Moses  on  Mount  Sinai,  and  Jesus  in 
the  wilderness,  without  bread,  so  can  he  sustain 
us  at  present.  He  has  only  to  speak  the  word, 
and  the  air  we  breathe  could  be  converted  into 
wine  or  milk  or  the  most  delicious  sustenance, 
and  could  yield  us  power  and  strength  in  the 
midst  of  outward  famine  and  helplessness.  Most 
literally  does  "  man  live  not  by  bread  alone,  but 
by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth 
of  God."  There  have  been  times  of  persecution, 
when  thousands  of  his  children  have  experien- 
ced to  the  very  letter  the  truth  of  this  Divine  de- 
claration ;  his  poor  believing  people  are  daily  ex- 
periencing the  truth  of  it  at  present ;  and  true 
indeed  it  is,  as  the  Lord  liveth. 

Therefore,  let  every  needy  soul  amongst  us 


THE    DEPTHS    OF   SATAN.  201 

lay  hold  of  God's  word  as  a  preservative  from 
fear  and  faint-heartedness,  and  as  a  shield  and 
buckler  against  all  the  assaults  and  temptations 
of  the  wicked  one.  It  has  seemed  good  to  the 
blessed  God,  that  many  of  his  dear  children 
amongst  us  should  meet  with  great  temporal  em- 
barrassments. They  are  beginning  to  want 
every  outward  comfort,  bread  and  fuel,  work  and 
business ;  every  prospect  of  credit  and  success 
threatens  to  fail  them.  They  are  as  in  a  wil- 
derness, among  rocks  and  stones,  and  their  tears 
have  been  their  meat  day  and  night.  Steal  or 
defraud  they  cannot ;  for  by  Divine  grace  they 
are  preserved  from  every  thing  of  the  kind.  But 
Satan  would  gain  an  advantage  against  them  at 
once,  if  the  thought  could  be  lodged  within  them 
that  God  had  forsaken  them,  and  that  they  must 
get  out  of  their  difficulties  by  their  own  devices ; 
or,  were  they  to  admit  distrust  and  anxiety  about 
what  they  shall  eat,  what  they  shall  drink,  or 
wherewithal  they  shall  be  clothed  ;  or,  were  they 
to  conclude  that  God's  providence  is  intimating 
through  their  poverty  and  distress,  that  they  are 
at  liberty  to  help  themselves  by  any  improper 
means.  Oh  put  not  such  a  triumph  as  this  into 
the  power  of  your  great  adversary,  my  distressed 
and  perplexed  brethren,  but  stand  to  your  arms, 
the  same  which  your  Master  bore  against  him, 
and  which  have  hereby  received  a  peculiar  sa- 
credness  and  power.  Reply  to  him  in  faith,  "  It 
i5  written,  Man  doth  not  live  by  bread  only,  but 
17* 


202  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth 
of  God  ;"  for  it  is  a  faithful  saying,  it  is  truth  it- 
self. Hold  fiist  by  it,  build  upon  it  every  hope  : 
wait,  only  wait  "  a  little  while "  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  verily  you  will  find  that  God  has  never 
left  you  nor  forsaken  you.  There  still  live  some 
amongst  us  who  have  been  in  greater  difficulties 
than  yours.  They  believed  that  word  without 
distrust ;  and  in  this  belief  they  resolutely  with- 
stood the  adversary,  whenever  he  approached 
with  his  pernicious  counsel.  They  went  on 
hoping  in  the  Lord  ;  and  what  was  the  result? 
Their  mouth  is  now  filled  with  laughter,  and 
their  tongue  with  singing,  Psa.  cxxvi.  2.  They 
can  tell  you  at  this  moment  that  for  mountains 
of  gold  and  silver  they  would  not  have  been 
without  the  experiences  they  enjoyed  during  their 
deprivations  in  the  wilderness ;  for  there  they 
saw  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  and  became  living 
witnesses  of  the  truth,  that  man  liveth  not  by 
bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth 
out  of  the  mouth  of  God.  As  your  Saviour  pre- 
ferred to  let  the  proof  of  his  Sonship  rest  with 
his  heavenly  Father,  so  may  you,  my  Christian 
bretliren,  quietly  upon  all  occasions  leave  the 
proof  of  your  adoption  to  be  evinced  by  the  Lord 
himself  He  will  take  care  to  testify  in  due  time, 
with  respect  to  those  that  are  his,  not  perhaps  by 
appointing  you  an  abundance  of  this  world's 
good,  but  by  certainly  supporting  you  in  what- 
ever destitution  you  may  be.     Then  shall  ye  call 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  203 

to  the  waste  places,  to  the  rocks  and  stones  to 
sing  together  with  yourselves,  because  He  hath 
prepared  you  a  table  in  the  wilderness,  and  with- 
otit  bread  hath  sustained  you,  by  the  word  of 
grace  which  proceedeth  out  of  his  mouth. 

IX.  The  second  assault. 

The  foregoing:  temptation  had  been  frustrated. 
Satan  was  probably  not  yet  certain  that  Jesus 
was  the  Son  of  God,  neither  had  he  succeeded 
to  divert  him  a  hair's-breadth  out  of  his  media- 
torial course.  Therefore  a  second  attack  is  now 
resolved  on.  He  "  taketh  him  up  into  the  holy 
city,  and  setteth  him  on  a  pinnacle  of  the  tem- 
ple :"  not  in  vision,  as  some  have  supposed,  but 
corporeally,  as  the  simple  language  of  the  sacred 
historian  plainly  intimates.  By  supernatural 
means  he  conveyed  him  through  the  air  to  Jeru- 
salem, and  set  him  upon  the  flat  roof  of  a  lofty 
wing  of  the  temple. 

Jesus  stood  upon  the  wing  of  the  temple,  and 
Satan  stood  beside  him.  It  was  a  dizzy  height. 
Deep  beneath  lay  the  city,  and  still  deeper  in  the 
vale  beyond,  was  the  brook  E^edron,  like  a  sil- 
very streak,  hardly  perceptible.  The  adver- 
sary continues  to  wear  the  appearance  of  a.  cor- 
dial friend,  professing  readiness  to  make  common 
cause  with  him  ;  and  if  he  were  really  the  Mes- 
siah, the  Son  of  God,  as  then  desiring  nothing 
more    earnestly  than  to  see  him   expedite  his 


204  THE   DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

work  of  redemption  to  an  issue.  Pointing,  there- 
fore, from  the  fearful  height  to  the  thronged 
courts  of  the  temple  and  the  crowded  city  below, 
he  addresses  him,  saying,  "  If  thou  be  the  Son 
of  God,  cast  thyself  down  :"  as  if  he  had  said,  "I 
desire  no  more  than  to  be  assured  that  thou  art 
the  promised  Messiah,  that  I  may  instantly  bow 
the  knee  to  thee  as  one  of  thy  ministering  angels. 
I  am  not  the  only  one  that  eagerly  waits  for  this 
disclosure  of  thy  personal  dignity.  Thou  wilt 
be  King  and  Ruler  over  a  great  people,  as  soon 
as  it  shall  please  thee  to  manifest  thy  princely 
glory.  Behold  now  an  opportunity  for  this. 
Descend  by  thy  miraculous  power  visibly  at 
once  into  the  midst  of  the  people  ;  and  let  such 
a  convincing  miracle  command  from  them  uni- 
versal submission  to  thy  majesty  and  honour. 
Then  wilt  thou  be  as  God ;  and  wilt  have  the 
requisite  assurance  that  thou  art  the  promised 
Messiah  ;  and  that  God  hath  not  forsaken  thee, 
as  he  seemed  to  have  done  in  the  wilderness." 
Such  might  be  the  purport  of  Satan's  present 
address  ;  and  for  the  better  securing  of  his  object 
he  adduces  that  glorious  promise  in  the  91st 
Psalm,  which  unquestionably  refers  particularly 
to  Christ :  "  He  shall  give  his  angels  charge  over 
thee,  and  in  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee  up^ 
lest  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone."  Deep 
was  the  plot,  and  the  temptation  strong ;  for  the 
deceiver  having  the  appearance  of  a  friendly  an- 
gelic minister,  his  purpose  seemed  pious,  good, 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  205 

and  suitable.     Behold,  brethren,  your  Saviour 
on  the  tempting  elevation  ;  and  Satan  inviting 
him  to  move  but  one  step  forwards,  and  he  shall 
be  "  the  Lord  in  the  air,"  the  angels  shall  bear 
him  softly  down   below,  the  people  shall  shout 
their  hosannas,  and  Christ  become  the  general 
object  of  adoring   admiration   and  attachment. 
But  had  such  a  proposal   been   complied   with, 
the  work  of  reconciliation  had  been  at  once  and 
for  ever  destroyed ;  for  our  Surety  would  thus 
have  turned  aside  from  the  mediatorial  way  of 
poverty  and  emptiness,  in  opposition  to  the  de- 
terminate counsel  and  foreknowledge  of  God  ; 
and  thus  the   "  Lamb"   would  not   have   been 
"  without  spot,"  but  blemished  with  the  sin  of 
tempting  God ;    and   consequently  unmeet  for 
a  paschal  sacrifice  of  atonement.     How  critical 
then  was  such  a  moment  of  trial !     But,  praise 
ye  the  Lord  !     Jesus  could  read  the  word  of 
God  throuo^h  that  veil  which  Satan  had  hungr 
before  him.     He  knew  that  the  angels  would 
bear  him  up.     Was  then  the  Son  of  God  to  de- 
part from   those   ways   into   others   of  private 
choosing,  and  was  he  still  to  look  for  the  Divine 
power  and  faithfulness  to  defend  his  human  per- 
son ?     Far  from  it ;  this  could  never  be.     His 
holy  soul  shrank  back  with  a  shudder  at  the 
Satanic  proposal.     One  word  of  Scripture  was 
intended  by  Satan  to  confound  and  ensnare  him, 
but  another  becomes  his    shield   and  defence. 
He  replies,  "  Again  it  is  written,  Thou  shalt  not 


206  THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN. 

tempt  the  Lord  thy  God  :"  and  once  more  does 
the  enemy  meet  with  a  signal  discomfiture. 

X.  Spiritual  heights. 

In  the  holy  city,  in  our  spiritual  Jerusalem, 
Satan  still  practises  his  most  cunning  crafts  and 
seductive  devices ;  here  also  he  too  frequently 
gains  his  most  signal  triumphs.  These,  of  how- 
ever short  duration,  he  is  continually  endeavour- 
ing to  renew,  and  especially  in  the  holy  city. 
Hence  there  still  abound  in  it  temptations,  which 
resemble  those  he  devised  against  our  Lord  him- 
self. The  deceits  of  the  adversary  are  never 
more  active  than  in  alluring  us  to  spiritual 
heights,  which  may  be  compared  to  the  tremen- 
dous transportation  of  Jesus  to  the  pinnacle  of 
the  temple.  The  best  and  happiest  condition  of 
the  soul  on  earth  is  to  abide  humbly  at  the  feet 
of  Jesus,  to  be  poor  in  spirit,  willing  to  spend 
every  day  with  Lazarus  at  the  rich  man's  gate^ 
or,  like  the  woman  of  Canaan,  to  be  thankful 
for  the  very  crumbs  which  fall  from  the  Master's 
table.  Then  is  it  well  with  us  ;  then  are  we 
rich  ;  then  are  we  safe.  But  the  wicked  one 
too  well  knows  that  this  state  of  mind  would  de- 
feat his  purpose ;  therefore  it  is  no  marvel  that 
he  aims  at  nothing  so  diligently  as  to  entice  the 
children  of  God  out  of  their  spiritual  poverty  and 
lowliness.  He  has  a  variety  of  methods  for  this 
purpose ;  let  us  here  notice  some  of  them. 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  207 

He  comes  to  you  transformed  as  an  angel  of 
light,  and  takes  you  up  into  the  holy  city,  when 
spreading  before  the  eyes  of  your  mind  the  gifts 
and  graces,  rights  and  privileges,  you  partake  of 
as  joint-heirs  of  the  kingdom,   he  brings  you 
easily  to  imagine  yourself  more  than  ordinarily 
elevated  into  communion  with  God  and  with  his 
holy  angels.     He  then  selects  for  your  special 
notice  one  of  such  gifts  in  particular,  and  begins 
to  show  you  what  a  multitude  you  possess  in 
this  one  :  how  a  single  gift  of  the  Spirit  sancti- 
fies you,  enlightens  you,  leads  you  into  all  truth, 
searches  the  deep  things  of  God,  moves  you, 
conducts  you,  speaks  in  you,  testifies  in  and  by 
you  :  all  which  may  be  perfectly  true.     But  he 
does  not  stop  here ;  for  next  he  endeavours  to 
persuade  you,  that  the  Spirit  must  surely  be  able 
to  reveal  to  you  something  more,  which  is  but 
partially  or  not  at  all  disclosed  in  the  Bible. 
And  now,  going  farther  still,  he  would  have  you 
to  regard  your  own  thoughts  as  suggestions  of 
Divine  inspiration.     He  carries  you  yet  higher, 
and  would  persuade  you  to  consider  yourself  as 
inspired  by  God.  as  one  who  no  longer  needs  the 
outward  light  of  the  letter,  because  you  possess 
the  inward  light  of  the  Spirit.     And  then,  oh  the 
peril !  before  you  are  aware,  you  may  be  borne 
up  as  by  enchantment  to  the  pinnacle  of  the 
temple.     You   may   feel  yourself  raised  above 
God's    external    word    and    testimony,    above 
church  ordinances,  and  every  thing  of  the  kind. 


208  THE    DEPTHS    OF   SATAN. 

You  may  regard  all  such  things,  nay,  the  whole 
Jerusalem  itself  of  other  believers,  as  far  beneath 
you  ;  and  it  is  only  a  miracle   of  omnipotent 
grace,  that  you  do  not  turn  giddy  on  such   a 
towering  height,  and  come  to  some  fearful  end, 
perhaps  to  positive  madness.     Into  delusions  of 
this  sort  were  some  of  our  brethren  at  N —  be- 
guiled not  very  long  ago.     They  have  now  quite 
forsaken  all  external  communion  with  their  bre- 
thren ;    they    recognize   no   church  discipline ; 
neither  will  they  be  directed  by  the  written  word 
of  God,  but  they  appeal  to  the  Spirit  within  them 
as  testifying  other  and  higher  things.     There 
may  be  true  children  of  God  among  them,  who, 
as  such,  will  one  day  see  their  error  and  be  set 
right  again  ;  but  the  error  itself  can  never  be 
other  than   a  most  mournful   and   awful   one. 
God  preserve  us  from  all  such   seductions   of 
Satan  !    Keep  a  firm  hold  of  the  word,  my  bre- 
thren.    It  is  written,  "  If  any  man  preach  any 
other  gospel  unto  you  than  that  ye  have  receiv- 
ed," (by  the  holy  Scriptures,) ''  let  him  be  accurs- 
ed ;"  and  again  it  is  written,  "  Thy  word  is  a 
lamp  unto  my  feet."     If  we  stand  to  what  is 
"  written,"  and  testify  it  in  faith,  this  will  put 
the  adversary  to  flight. 

But  if  Satan  cannot  succeed  with  us  in  one 
way,  he  v/ill  attempt  it  in  another.  Christians 
of  every  character  may  be  raised  by  him  to  the 
dizzy  pinnacle  of  the  temple.  Innumerable  are 
the  methods  by  which  they  are  enchanted  up. 


THE    DEPTHS   OF    SATAN.  209 

They  may  be  carried  thither  by  the  sweetly 
soothing  notion,  that  God  has  revealed  to  them 
all  mysteries,  that  he  has  enlightened  them  be- 
yond the  common  lot  of  teachers  and  instruc- 
tors ;  so  that  they  imagine  themselves  to  have 
the  key  of  David  at   command.      They    may 
be  seduced  by  their  self-imagined   treasure    of 
knowledge,  and  be  taken  captive  by  a  diabolical 
interpretation    of  these  words,    "  Ye    have   an 
unction  from  the  Holy  One,  and  ye  know  all 
things,"  1  John  ii.  20.     This  is  no  uncommon 
way  in  which  Satan  interprets  Scripture,   and 
applies  it;  so  that  a  man  may   even  come   to 
think  himself  the  man  who   smites  the  earth 
with  the  sword  of  his  mouth,  who  rules  over 
minds  with  the  sceptre  of  his  word,  and  after 
whom  no  one  dares  to  speak.     To  many  a  Chris- 
tain    his   teaching   and    preaching  gifts   have, 
through    the    devil's    craft,   become    a    snare. 
Others  have  grown  high-minded  by  the  notion 
that  their  state  with  respect  to  God  was  privi- 
leged with  something  extraordinary,  that  in  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  they  must  have  been  placed 
at  least  a  few  degrees  higher  than  other  poor  sin- 
ners.    Perhaps   their  experience  of  remarkable 
answers  to  prayer  was  made  use  of  by  Satan  in 
preparing  for  them  this  sweet  poison.     Others 
have  settled  down  in  the  notion  that  the  church 
cannot    well  do   without    them.      They  have 
"  seemed  to  be  pillars"  in  it,  as  apostles  and  pro- 
phets of  their  day.     The  blessing  with  which 
18 


210        THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN. 

God  has  attended  their  ministrations  in  public 
Or  private,  has  been  converted  by  the  devil's  art 
into  a  snare  by  which  they  have  been  caught. 
The  adversary  has  deluded  others  with  the  ima- 
gination that  their  own  dreams  and  fancies  were 
Divine  visions  and  disclosures  ;  hence  they  have 
ventured  to  give  utterances  of  their  own  as  if 
they  were  oracles  of  God.  Before  the  mind  of 
others  the  adversary  holds  up  an  enchanted  mir- 
ror, in  which  they  view  themselves  as  saints  en- 
circled with  a  glory ;  or  the  devil  sends  to  them 
friends  who  commend,  admire,  and  idolize  them 
as  eminent  for  meekness,  patience,  faith,  and 
love.  Thus  they  become  gradually  deluded 
into  the  notion,  that  surely  God  must  have  or- 
dained them  to  be  held  up  as  patterns  of  holi- 
ness to  the  world. 

Such  are  some  of  the  spiritual  elevations  of 
which  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple  may  remind 
us.  And  though  persons  thus  infatuated  may 
think  to  go  no  further  than  to  regard  themselves 
as  apostles,  eminent  saints,  and  prophets,  yet  if 
they  once  suffer  themselves  to  be  set  upon  heights 
of  this  sort,  they  are  not  unfrequently  carried 
higher  still.  Neither  do  all  return  down  again 
by  the  regular  steps,  gently  and  without  injury ; 
but  alas  !  many,  after  reeling  on  dizzy  heights, 
plunge  at  length  into  the  most  pernicious  depths 
of  heresy.  In  every  age  there  have  been  such 
unhappy  persons,  who  in  their  own  notions  have 
been  raised  almost  to  the  place  of  God,  so  as 


THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN.  211 

even  to  usurp  the  office  of  Christ  and  his  Holy 
Spirit;  and  all  this  has  been  peculiarly  experi- 
enced in  the  holy  city.     Brethren,  abide  in  your 
Rock,  and  there  remain  humble  before  God.    1 
would  say  this  especially  to  those  who  are  rich 
in  gifts,  or  "  apt  to  teach  ;"  who  are  had  in  repu- 
tation among  the  brethren ;  who  take  the  lead 
in  Christian  societies  or  communion,  or   whose 
light  shines  with  more  than  common  brightness 
in   Zion:   for   with  such   persons   the  dragon 
easily  finds  an  ear,  whereby  to  seize  and  carry 
them  off  into  the  heights.  Gird  on  you  as  a  breast- 
plate that  word  of  the  Divine  oracle,  "Blessed 
are  the  poor  in  spirit;  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven."     Bear  it  about  as  an  helmet  or  a  dia- 
dem, that  "  whosoever  receiveth  not  the  king- 
dom of  God  as  a  little  child,  he  can  in  no  wise 
enter  therein."     Hold  fast  as  a  sword  in  your 
hand,  the  word  by  which  you  are  taught  that 
«  God  resisteth  the  >roud,  but  giveth  grace  to 
the  humble."    And  ever  remember  that  the  rose 
of  Sharon  and  the  lily  of  the  valleys  will  neither 
bloom  nor  even  live  upon  heights  and  eminences, 
but  far  below  them.     And  whenever  the  devil 
would  urge  you  to  any  extravagant  or  perplex- 
ing speculations  on  mysterious  subjects  inscru- 
table  to  man,  or  allure  you  to  vain  and  unprofit- 
able subtleties,— whether  to  comprehend  the  dis^ 
^mciion  of  the  Three  Persons  in  the  Godhead, 
or  to  comprehend  the  nature  of  eternity,  or  the 
two-fold  nature  of  Christ  as  God  and  man,  be- 


212  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

fore  you  will  heartily  believe  such  things, — or 
whether  he  would  allure  you  to  any  other  lofty 
heights  of  divine  mysteries,  then  recollect  your- 
selves, and  meet  the  adversary  with  that  scrip- 
tural reply,  It  is  written,  "  Now  we  know  in 
part,  and  we  prophesy  in  part ;  but  when  that 
which  is  perfect  is  come,  then  that  which  is  in 
part  shall  be  done  away."  Testify  to  him  in 
the  name  of  Jesus,  that  you  desire  not  to  know 
more  than  is  necessary  to  salvation,  and  good  for 
your  own  spiritual  health  :  thus  will  you  resist 
the  devil,  and  he  will  flee  from  you. 

XL  "If  thou  be  a  child  of  God  cast  thy- 
self DOWN." 

That  the  enemy  readily  avails  himself  of  our 
adoption  to  put  us  off  our  guard  against  his  be- 
guiling us  into  all  kinds  of  presumptuous  and 
ungodly  living,  is  well  known.  For  instance, 
he  has  discovered  that  you  retain  some  besetting 
sin  in  your  members,  which  you  have  not  learn- 
ed to  subdue.  He  therefore  draws  you  into  com- 
pany or  circumstances,  whereby  no  sooner  is  the 
lust  stirred  afresh,  than  opportunity  is  given  for 
its  gratification  :  and  thus  you  are  on  the  brink 
of  a  precipice.  "  Cast  thyself  down,"  whispers 
the  devil ;  but  you  are  disposed  to  flee  from  it. 
"Stay,  stay,"  is  the  suggestion;  "it  is  so  plea- 
sant in  the  vale  below."  You  strive  against  it. 
"  Cast  thyself  down  !"  is  forced  upon  you  louder 


THE    DEPTHS   OP   SATAN.  213 

than  before ;  and  though  you  tremble  at  the  dan- 
ger, you  have  not  the  self-denial  to  turn  away 
from  it  at  once  :  but  you  feel  as  if  detained  by 
enchantment.  "Cast  thyself  down  !"  continues 
the  adversary  ;  "  you  are  a  child  of  God,  and 
may  safely  reckon  upon  pardon  and  recovery." 
Such  are  his  suggestions ;  and  if  God  prevent 
not,  your  plunge  is  certain.  Take  another  in- 
stance :  you  are  naturally  irritable,  and  some- 
thing of  a  provoking  kind  said  or  done  by  those 
about  you,  puts  your  feelings  in  a  tumult.  You 
are  disposed  to  resent  it,  but  you  are  in  doubt 
whether  you  may  venture  to  do  so ;  and  now 
you  are  at  the  precipice.  "  Cast  thyself  down  !" 
cries  the  devil ;  "  you  are  God's  child,  and  chil- 
dren of  God  are  not  to  compromise  with  such 
low  and  carnal  people  ;  evince  like  a  man,  your 
zeal  for  what  is  right  and  becoming."  Such  a 
thought  is  no  sooner  suggested  than  you  may  be 
instantly  urged  by  violent  displeasure  to  use 
harsh  and  unbecoming  language,  and  add  sin  to 
sin. 

As  the  adversary  proposed  that  the  Messiah's 
Divine  Sonship  should  be  proved  in  a  way  con- 
trary to  the  Divine  will,  by  an  arbitrary  descent 
from  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple,  so  he  often  endea- 
vours to  insinuate  proposals  of  a  similar  kind  into 
the  minds  of  true  believers.  Thus  he  whispers, 
"  There  are  certain  persons  of  your  Christian 
acquaintance  who  regard  you  as  at  best  but  a 
babe  in  Christ ;  certainly  they  account  you  no 
18* 


214  THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN. 

experienced  Christiaiij  if  a  Christian  at  all.  Give 
them  proof  that  their  suspicions  are  groundless. 
Let  them  clearly  see  what  you  are."  Then  it  is 
high  time  to  take  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  against 
the  tempter,  and  to  meet  him  with  the  word, 
"  The  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are  his ;"  and 
here  to  let  the  matter  rest.  But  too  often  on 
such  occasions  precious  souls  are  beguiled  into 
a  wrong  track  ;  one  uttering  shameful  untruths, 
by  boasting  of  spiritual  experiences  which  have 
never  been  his  own  ;  another  improperly  assum- 
ing an  elevated  spiritual  devotion,  to  which  the 
Lord  alone  can  raise  the  heart ;  another  unwar- 
rantably professing  to  have  an  unction  from  the 
Holy  One,  though  it  has  never  been  bestowed 
upon  him  for  the  occasion ;  another  committing 
fatal  excesses,  by  doing,  from  his  own  spirit, 
things  which  he  would  have  others  regard  as 
done  by  the  teaching  and  direction  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  What  can  be  greater  abominations  in 
the  sight  of  God  than  these  ?  And  how  scorn- 
fully may  the  adversary  triumph,  when  he  has 
succeeded  in  precipitating  sincere  Christians 
into  such  mire  and  impurity  ! 

"Cast  thyself  down,"  said  the  devil  to  our 
blessed  Lord ;  and  perhaps  gave  as  a  reason  for 
it,  that  Christ  might  thereby  speed  the  accom- 
plishment of  the  Divine  purposes.  Satan's  pur- 
pose would  have  been  answered,  could  he  have 
excited  in  the  soul  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  a  momen- 
tary feeling  of  impatience  at  the  slow  advance- 


THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN.  .     215 

ment  of  his  great  work  of  redemption.  And  oh  ! 
how  sedulous  is  he  to  provoke  true  believers  to 
such  impatience  ;  how  eagerly  would  he  stimu- 
late them  to  perfect  their  holiness  in  a  hurry,  by 
exercises  of  voluntary  humility  and  will-wor- 
ship ;  and  to  aim,  by  rapid  strides,  at  high  and 
eminent  degrees  of  sanctity  !  How  prompt  is  he 
in  this  respect  to  cry  unto  them,  "  Cast  your- 
selves down,  and  take  the  shortest  way  !"  For 
the  crafty  adversary  knows  full  well,  that  to  ad- 
vance in  such  a  way  is  only  to  retrograde,  it  be- 
ing a  departure  from  the  throne  of  grace,  and 
from  the  blood  of  the  Lamb;  and  that  in  any 
way  of  our  own  choosing,  no  angels  bear  us  up 
in  their  hands :  that  our  feet  must  inevitably  be 
dashed  against  a  stone,  and  that  we  can  settle 
down  in  nothing  but  falsehood,  gloominess,  pride, 
and  self-complacency.  Are  the  persons  he  would 
assault,  ministers  and  witnesses  of  the  truth? 
How  vigilant  is  he  to  observe,  whether  they  ac- 
count the  time  tedious,  till  God  crowns  their  la- 
bours with  success  ;  and  how  diligently  does  he 
foment  this  impatience  in  their  hearts,  and  cry 
out  unto  them,  "  Cast  thyself  down  !"  What  a 
gratification  to  him  is  it  when  they  follow  this 
advice  ;  as,  when  with  passionate  heat  and  false 
fire  of  their  own,  they  set  about  forcing  the  con- 
version of  souls  committed  to  their  chargfe : 
when,  with  mere  carnal  raving,  they  would 
drive  their  flocks  as  by  the  force  of  a  tempest, 
into  the  covert  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  in- 


2\6  THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN. 

vent  a  girdle,  an  unctionj  and  a  rod  of  God  for 
themselves,  because  he  has  not  bestowed  such 
things  upon  them.  All  this  is  quite  a  triumph 
to  the  adversary,  for  he  knows  that  now  they 
have  no  chance  of  success  ;  because  the  Holy 
Spirit  will  not  acknowledge  such  blind  zeal  of 
our  own.  Those  whom  he  is  pleased  to  make 
use  of  as  his  instruments  are  as  broken  vessels  in 
their  own  esteem,  and  abide  patiently  in  the  Lord 
their  God  ;  suffering  themselves  to  be  led,  inci- 
ted, carried,  managed,  and  governed,  as  to  Him 
shall  seem  good.  These  will  speed  far  better. 
''He  that  beheveth  shall  not  make  haste,"  Isa. 
xxviii.  16.  No  violence  of  man  can  be  of  any 
service  here. 

XII.  God's  word  as  Satan's  -weapon. 

The  devil,  in  desiring  Jesus  to  cast  himself 
down,  asked  "a  hard  thing."  And  yet  the  chil- 
dren of  God  have  been  enabled  to  do  greater 
things  than  this.  Peter  courageously  stepped 
out  of  the  boat,  and  walked  upon  the  troubled 
waters  to  go  to  Jesus  ;  and  the  three  worthies 
mentioned  in  the  book  of  Daniel,  walked  boldly 
in  the  midst  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  fiery  furnace  : 
nor  did  either  of  the  parties  suffer  loss  or  harm. 
The  promises  which  God  hath  given  us  are  ex- 
ceeding broad,  so  that  any  thing  and  every  thing 
may  be  ventured  upon  them ;  and  that  Divine 
assurance  which  Satan  adduced  with  a  show  of 


THE    DEPTHS   OF    SATAN.  217 

piety,  to  move  Jesus  to  compliance,  is  far  from 
being  one  of  the  strongest  to  be  met  with  in  the 
sacred  records.     Doubtless  the  angels  are  com- 
missioned to  bear  us  in  their  hands.     They  are 
given  as  an  escort  and  body  guard,  on  whose  con- 
stant attendance  and  protection  we  are  allowed 
cheerfully  to  reckon  "  in  all  our  ways,"  provided 
they  are  the  ways  of  God's  appointing.     Jesus 
therefore  could  have  safely  cast  himself  down 
from  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple  by  virtue  of  the 
promise  referred  to  ;  but  he  did  it  not ;  and  why 
not  ?     Why  did  he  prefer  descending  in  the  nat- 
ural way,  by  the  staircase  of  the  building  ?     Be- 
cause the  other  way  was  not  Divinely  pointed 
out  to  him.     Satan's  proposal  was  no  sooner  ut- 
tered than  the  Divine  commandment  was  pres- 
ent to  show,  that  the  promise  was  never   given 
for  ways  of  our  own  choosing.     Therefore,  if  Sa- 
tan could  say.  It  is  written,  "He  shall  give  his 
angels  charge  concerning  thee,"  Jesus  could  turn 
upon  him  with  an  equivalent  weapon,  and  infi- 
nitely more  to  the  purpose  could  reply,  "  It  is 
written,  Thou   shalt  not  tempt  the   Lord   thy 
God." 

What  is  it  to  tempt  Him?  It  is  to  run  of  our 
own  will  into  danger,  that  God  may  deliver  us 
from  it.  To  such  vain  and  frivolous  steps  is  the 
devil  ever  ready  to  seduce  us,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose he  has  by  rote  the  most  powerful  promises 
of  Scripture,  wherewith  to  din  the  mind,  if  pos- 
sible, into  compliance.     Therefore,  my  brethren, 


218 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 


whenever  a  Divine  promise  is  suggested  to  us, 
as  an  encouragement  to  any  adventurous  under- 
taking, let  us  be  careful  to  inquire  whether  such 
promise  was  ever  intended  to  meet  a  case  like 
ours,  and  whether  the  circumstances  we  are  in, 
give  us  any  right  to  be  encouraged  by  it.  We 
shall  thus  perceive  who  it  is  that  suggests  it  to  us, 
and  Satan  will  not  so  easily  beguile  us  through 
his  subtlety.  Should  it  be  suggested  to  you  to 
venture  out  to  sea  in  storm  and  danger,  because 
you  descry  some  person  in  great  peril  of  a  wa- 
tery grave  ;  and  should  you  feel  encouraged  at 
such  a  moment  by  that  Divine  promise,  "  When 
thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with 
thee ;"  or  if,  when  you  see  a  house  on  fire,  it  is 
suggested  to  you  to  ascend  it  amidst  smoke  and 
flame,  because  there  is  a  child  still  left  in  it,  who 
must  otherwise  quickly  perish  ;  and  God's  prom- 
ise, "  Fear  not,  I  am  with  thee  ;"  "  when  thou 
walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burn- 
ed," occurs  to  your  mind  ;  or  if  there  is  a  cry  in 
your  heart,  '•  Give  to  that  poor  starving  person 
the  last  farthing  you  possess,"  for  it  is  written, 
"  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the 
least  of  these,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me  ;"  then, 
brother,  venture  in  God's  name,  to  go  and  do 
thus  !  It  is  a  good  angel  that  talketh  with  thee, 
and  thou  mayest  be  confident  of  God's  ''  very 
present  help."  But  if  another  invite  thee  say- 
ing, Come  with  me,  friend,  and  let  us  have  no 
scruple  about  joining  a  merry  party;  for  you 


THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN. 


219 


know  the  Bible  says,  «  The  Lord  keepeth  the 
feet  of  his  saints  ;"  or  if  you  have  it  suggested  to 
you  "  to  forbear  working  "  in  the  path  of  duty, 
at  whatever  requires  your  diligence  and  perseve- 
rance ;  if  you  are  thus  invited  to  keep  a  holiday, 
because  it  is  written,  "  The  Lord  giveth  to  his 
beloved  sleeping  ;"  then  know  that  it  is  the  crafty 
and  old  serpent  that  is  now  interposing.  Answer 
him,  "It  is  written  again,  Thou  shalt  not  tempt 
the  Lord  thy  God  1" 

Tliere  are  many  devices  of  Satan,  which   are 
formed  in  this  way  of  wresting  and  misapplying 
the  word  of  God  :  and   a  very   pernicious  one  is 
that  whereby  he   would  instigate   us   to   try   if 
some  special  promise  of  Scripture  may  not   be 
fulfilled  to  our  sensible  experience  ;  which  is  to 
put  to  the  test  or   torture,   the   faithfulness   and 
truth  of  God.     A  horrible  piece  of  folly  of  the 
kind  is  said  to   have   been  committed  by   some 
professed  Christians,  who  met  together  to  test  by 
their  own  arbitrary  notions,  the  truth  of  our  bless, 
ed  Saviour's  promise  in  Matt,  xviii.  20,  '•  Where 
two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name^ 
there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them."  This  promise 
the  adversary  held  up  before  them,  and  indorsed 
it  with  another,  aUke  wrested  from  the  Scriptures 
of  truth  :  "If  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth  as 
touching  any  thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall 
be  done  for  them  of  my  Father  which  is  in  hea- 
ven," Matt,  xviii.  19.     His  suggestion  then  was, 
»  Can  it  be  even  so  ?"  Therefore  those  persons 


220         THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN. 

thought  they  would  try  to  ascertain  it,  and  they 
appointed  an  hour  for  meeting  together  to  pray 
that  the  Lord  would  personally  appear  to  them. 
They  met,  and  cried,  "  O  Lord,  hear  us.  O 
liOrd,  hear  us  !  manifest  thyself,  and  appear  in  the 
midst  of  us!"  But  the  Lord  appeared  7io^  !  The 
adversary  however  triumphed,  and  the  mischief 
sped.  Afterward  the  Lord  may  be  said  to  have 
appeared  indeed^  but  in  a  different  way  from 
what  those  persons  had  expected :  for  he  suffered 
leanness  to  come  upon  their  souls;  his  special 
blessing  seemed  withdrawn  ;  neither  light  nor 
joy  nor  peace  in  believing  did  they  enjoy  during 
the  rest  of  their  days ;  but  they  evinced  such 
spiritual  declension,  and  then  such  a  decided 
falling  away,  as  none  of  their  fellow-Christians 
could  prevent.  May  God  by  his  grace  preserve 
us  from  ever  attempting  thus  to  try  his  faithful- 
ness and  truth.  Let  the  least  thought  of  the 
kind  be  regarded  as  a  certain  sign  that  all  is  not 
right  within  us  ;  and  let  us  cry  against  it,  and 
against  its  infernal  prompter,  as  earnestly  as 
possible,  "  It  is  written,  Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the 
Lord  thy  God." 

One  of  the  most  common  deceits  of  Satan  is 
to  make  use  of  some  part  of  the  word  of  God  it- 
self, to  beget  in  us  a  distrust  of  the  rest.  Strange 
things  have  God's  children  to  encounter  in  this 
way.  Thus  "  in  a  moment  of  time  "  will  Satan 
bring  before  us  a  number  of  biblical,  but  com- 
paratively insignificant  circumstances;  as  that  of 


•^;^ 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  221 

Paul  writing  to  Timothy  to  bring  with  him  the 
cloak  that  he  left  at  Troas  ;  and,  holding  up  this, 
and  similar  passages  to  our  notice,  he  will  ask 
maliciously,  "  Can  such  be  the  words  of  inspira- 
tion ?     If  not,  surely  the  whole  volume  of  Scrip- 
ture is  not  inspired."     He  now  inquires  more 
boldly,  "  Which  passages  are  inspired,  and  which 
are  not  ?"  in  order  to  hurry  us  to  his  own  con- 
clusion, that  "  the  Bible  is  loose  ground  to  build 
upon."     And  indeed,  by  juggling  of  this  sort,  he 
is  sometimes  but  too  successful  for  a  while,  in 
pulling  down  the  whole  fabric  of  Scripture  tes- 
timony about  us,  and  burying  us  in  confusion 
and  uncertainty,  till  we  can  recollect  ourselves. 
Not  seldom  will  he  bring  suddenly  to  our  remem- 
brance some  Divine  declaration  or  promise,  just 
at  the  moment  of  any  occurrence  that  seems  to 
confront  and  contradict  such  a  part  of  the.  Di- 
vine word.     For  instance,  are  you  in  some  great 
affliction,  or  perplexing  trial,  and  ready  to  de- 
spair because  no  relief  nor  help  arrives?     The 
Divine  saying,  of  which  he  will  then  remind  you, 
is  such  as  this,  "  Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  chil- 
dren, so  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him  ;" 
and  then  with  a  scornful  smile  will  he  suggest, 
''  Where  is  now  that  Father  ?     And  his  pity  to 
his  children,  where  is  it  in  your  own  case  ?" 
And  nothing  will  gratify  him  so  much  as  to  see 
your  soul  hereby  defiled  with  despondency,  un- 
belief,  and  impatience.     When  you  have  long 
supplicated  and  wrestled  in  prayer,  whether  it 
19 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN, 

be  for  bread  for  your  starvino^  family,  or  for  di- 
rection in  some  great  perplexity,  or  for  a  little  re- 
lief and  repose  from  bodily  pain,  or  for  one  drop 
of  consolation  in  anguish  of  mind,  and  you  are 
still  obliged  to  wait,  the  adversary  will  be  at 
hand  with  his  suggestion,  "  It  is  written,  \\  hat- 
soever  ye  shall  ask  the  Father  in  my  name,  he 
will  give  it  you  :*'  and  he  will  inquire,  What 
benefit  in  your  present  affliction  have  you,  with 
all  your  pious  prayers,  derived  from  that  prom- 
ise ?  Here  then,  except  the  Lord  keep  the  cita- 
del of  your  faith,  some  fiery  dart  of  the  wicked  is 
likely  to  wound  you. 

The  most  dancrerous  manner  in  which  Satan 
can  employ  the  word  of  God  as  a  weapon  against 
us,  is  as  follows  :  Having  forced  a  saying  of 
Scripture  away  from  the  context,  he  will  inter- 
pret it  so  apart  from  its  connexion  and  true  ap- 
plication, that  you  may  be  led  by  it  into  pre- 
sumption. Here,  if  any  where,  it  is  necessary  to 
meet  him  with  plain  Scripture,  and  to  use  it  as 
the  sword  of  the  Spirit.  If  he  allege,  It  is  writ- 
ten, "  Where  sin  abounded,  grace^  did  much 
more  abound,"  Rom.  v.  20,  therefore  give  the 
rein  to  your  lusts  ;  we  must  reply  to  him,  It  is 
also  written,  "  Shall  we  continue  in  sin,  that 
grace  may  abound?  God  forbid.  How  shall 
we,  that  are  dead  to  sin,  live  any  longer  therein?" 
Rom.  vi.  1,  2.  Does  he  suggest,  It  is  written, 
Rom.  vii.  17,  "  Now  then  it  is  no  more  1  that  do 
it,  but  sin  that  dwelleth  in  me ;"  therefore  be 


THE    DEPTHS    OF   SATAN.  223 

easy,  and  not  so  concerned  about  your  faults ; 
let  him  be  answered  with,  It  is  written  again, 
"  O  wretched  man  that  I  am  !  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death?"  Rom.  vii.  24. 
When  the  children  of  God  groan  with  their  bur- 
dens of  indwelling  sin,  then  also  is  Satan  ready 
with  his  citation  of  Scripture,  saying,  "  It  is  not 
of  him  that  willeth,  nor  of  him  that  runneth,  but 
of  God  that  showeth  mercy,"  Rom.  ix.  16  ;  there- 
fore go  more  into  the  world,  or  go  on  in  it,  and 
wait   till    God   effectually  calls    you    off  from 
it.     Our  answer  to  such  perversions  of  Scripture 
must  be,  It  is  also  writtten,  "  Work  out  your 
own  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling  :  for  it  is 
God  which  worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to 
do  of  his  good  pleasure,"  Phil.  ii.  12,  13.     Does 
the  subtle  adversary  suggest,  that  it  is  written, 
"  Known  unto  God  are  all  his  works,  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world,"  Acts  xv.  18  ;  therefore 
you  may  leave  oiF  praying  and  supplicating,  for 
your  fixed  condition  is  allotted  you  ;  and  what 
you  are  to  receive,  you  will  certainly  receive, 
whether  you  pray  or  not  ?     Then  reply.  It  is 
written  again,  "  Ask.  and  it  shall  be  given  you — 
for  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth,"  Luke  xi.  9, 
10.     Does  the  old  serpent,  perverting  those  words 
of  our  Lord,  "This  is  the  Father's  will  which 
hath  sent  me,  that  of  all  which  he  hath  given  me, 
I  should  lose  nothing,  but  should   raise  it  up 
again  at  the  last  day,''  insinuate,  that  consequent- 
ly you  may  live  on  as  you  please,  and  enjoy 


224 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 


whatsoever  your  soul  lusteth  after  ;  that  let  the 
law  of  Moses  remonstrate  as  it  will,  you  are  kept 
by  the  power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salva- 
tion ?  Cry  out,  my  brethren,  in  reply  to  every 
insinuation  of  the  kind,  Again  it  is  written, 
"  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  1  know  them,  and 
they  follow  me,"  John  x.  27.  Thus  will  you 
disarm  the  adversary  ;  thus,  in  the  strength  of 
our  God,  you  will  triumph  over  him,  and  make  a 
show  of  him  openly,  Col.  ii.  15. 

XIII.    The    ENCHANTING    VISION. 

The  scene  of  action  is  now  changed.  The 
Son  of  God,  by  the  power  granted  to  Satan  over 
his  human  person,  is  suddenly  transferred  from 
the  pinnacle  of  the  temple  to  the  top  of  "  an  ex- 
ceeding high  mountain."  By  the  same  power, 
Satan  here  presents  to  Christ's  human  soul,  the 
vision  of  unbounded  scenery  over  the  face  of  the 
globe  ;  for  this  seems  to  be  implied  in  the  words, 
"  he  showeth  him  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world, 
and  the  glory  of  them."  As  quickly  as  we  can 
turn  round,  were  all  the  kingdoms  of  this  world 
shown  to  him  in  the  field  of  vision,  with  every 
particular  of  their  glory,  pomp,  pleasure,  and  de- 
coration :  and  herein  whatever  scene  was  most 
alluring  to  human  nature  passed  before  him. 
The  restrictions  of  what  we  call  time  and  space, 
were  done  away  :  objects  however  remote,  or  con- 
cealed, were  thus  in  effect  near,  unveiled,  and 
disclosed,  "  in  a  moment  of  time."    This  was  an 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  225 

amazing  sleight  of  Satan,  and  shows  what  he  is 
capable  of  doing,  if  the  Lord  permit  him.     The 
fairest  regions  of  the  earth  became  opened  to  the 
view,  and  presented  an  enchanting  panorama  of 
the  finest  countries  and  most  splendid  palaces. 
Here,  was  stately  Rome,  the  mistress  of  the  world, 
the  lady  of  kingdoms  ;  there,  the  spicy  hills  of 
the  east,  with  Persia's  lovely  gardens ;  Ophir, 
with  its  mines  of  gold,  and  stores  of  diamonds  ; 
and  India,  that  wonderful  land,  glowing  in  the 
coloured  adornings  of  perpetual  spring,  and  flow- 
ing with  milk  and  honey.     But  not  only  whole 
empires  and  cities,  innumerable  other  objects  of 
every  kind  are  now  presented  also  ;  not  only  the 
kingdoms  of  this  world,  but  the  glory  of  them. 
Whatever  earth   affords  to   invite    and  attract, 
whatever,  as  delightful  and  captivating  to  the 
senses,  the  children  of  this  world  regard  as  their 
paradise,  is  exhibited  in  full  view.     Villags  lis- 
tening in  elysian  pleasure  grounds ;  state,  pomp 
and  equipage,  with  every  variety  of  courtly  cir- 
cumstance; galleries  of  art  and  schools  of  wisdom: 
laurels  of  fame  and  monuments  of  renown  ;  sump- 
tuous banquets  in  imperial  saloons  ;  festal  crowds 
listening  to   magic  symphony  and  enrapturing 
chorus  ;  all  that  makes  the  heart  of  worldlings 
leap,  that  fires  every  nerve,  and  enraptures  every 
eye,  was  exhibited  in  the  liveliest  manner  before 
the  human  soul  of  Jesus ;  and  God  only  know- 
eth  what  that  pure  human  soul   must  have  had 
to  witness.     No  spectacle  of  pleasure,  no  sense- 
19* 


226  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

intoxicating  scene,  would  Satan  left  undisclosed 
to  the  view  of  our  blessed  and  most  holy  Lord. 

Not  unlike  this  is  the  experience  sometimes  of 
many  Christian  brethren.  Those  who  are  of  a 
fervid  temperament  and  lively  imagination,  can 
tell  of  similar  fascinations.  The  adversary  is  the 
readier  to  practise  them  upon  persons  of  this 
description,  because  their  natural  love  of  excite- 
ment and  the  vividness  of  their  sensations  seem 
to  promise  him  a  surer  triumph ;  indeed,  he  is 
often  far  too  successful  in  bearing  their  spirits 
up  to  his  enchanting  heights.  For  this  purpose 
he  commonly  employs  some  outward  means. 
These  he  will  gather,  for  instance,  from  the  fine 
arts,  as  they  are  every  where  abused  to  world- 
liness  and  the  pleasures  of  sin.  Thus  at  one 
time  it  is  a  beautiful  picture,  at  another  the  witch- 
eries of  poetry,  at  another,  the  sweetness  of  melo- 
dy, or  the  sublimity  of  musical  composition, 
whereby  he  dissolves  their  spiritual  firmness. 
Sometimes,  if  only  some  sweet  mazy  melody 
softly  undulating  from  a  distance,  be  listened  to, 
as  one  sits  musing  in  the  soUtary  chamber,  his 
sorcery  may  prove  successful.  For  now,  as  if 
created  by  his  mighty  fiat,  will  a  new  paradise  of 
entrancing  felicity  suddenly  arise  in  the  imagi- 
nation, and  the  soul  is  transported  into  an  earthly 
heaven,  as  through  a  veil  suddenly  rent  in  twain. 
Youthful  delights,  and  some  of  them  not  the 
most  innocent,  to  which  we  had  long  ago  bidden 
a  final  farewell,  re-appear  in  all  their   strength 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  227 

and  freshness;  and  forbidden  gratifications,  to 
which  perhaps  we  had  been  for  years  crucified 
and  dead,  re-invite  in  their  most  attractive  form, 
in  their  most  captivating  power  of  allurement. 
Here,  hang  wreaths  of  that  glory,  which  fadeth 
away,  but  how  honourable  and  desirable  do  they 
again  seem  to  our  imagination  !  There,  the  merry 
faces  of  old  worldly  friends,  around  the  loaded 
board  of  their  hospitalities  and  luxuries,  seem  so 
to  have  revived,  that  we  even  hear  again  the  loud 
laugh  pealing  at  the  raillery  or  ambiguous 
witticism  of  their  remarks  ;  and  perhaps  in  our 
very  solitude  we  are  excited  to  join  the  loud 
laugh  once  more.  Are  not  unholy  sympathies 
on  such  occasions  rekindled  within  us,  and  often 
indulged,  so  as  to  supersede  for  awhile  all  relish 
of  spiritual  things  ?  In  such  a  state  of  mind,  per- 
haps, are  unfolded  to  our  imagination  the  scenes 
of  mirth  and  song,  where  the  harp  resounds  to 
the  dance,  and  all  is  animation  and  mirth  ;  or 
our  thoughts  may  flit  over  the  enchanted  meads 
and  rosy  bowers  of  lovely  poesy,  and  in  either 
manner  be  equally  carried  away.  In  a  word, 
whatever  of  this  world  is  beautiful  or  valuable, 
may  in  a  moment  captivate  the  fancy,  enchain 
the  thoughts,  and  seduce  the  heart.  Trifling  as 
such  things  may  at  first  appear,  a  train  of  sin 
may  commence  from  them  ;  the  soul  may  hereby 
become  untuned  for  converse  with  God  and 
things  divine,  and  the  most  lamentable  conse- 
quences   may    ensue.     Here  are  conditions  of 


228  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

mind  that  may  easily  befall  you  ;  and  when  they 
doj  you  may  consider  it  as  the  devil  showing  you 
the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  and  the  glory  of 
them,  in  a  moment  of  time.  For  this  very  reason 
are  the  musical  entertainments  of  the  present  day 
so  dangerous  a  snare,  because  they  are  so  availa- 
ble to  the  adversary  for  seducing  us  to  declivities 
of  sensual  delusion.  The  symphonies  and  melo- 
dies, the  concerts  and  operas,  which  are  the 
charm  of  the  world,  serve,  with  him  at  least,  as 
a  powerful  spell  for  transforming  the  perishable 
and  worthless  glories  of  this  earth  into  an  ima- 
ginary bliss,  that  supersedes  all  real  delight  in 
the  present,  and  prospective  glory  of  God's  king- 
dom. Even  real  Christians  of  considerable  ex- 
perience have  confessed,  that  music,  apostatized 
music,  severed  as  it  is  from  the  service  of  God 
and  inspired  only  by  the  spirit  of  the  world,  has 
at  times  so  irresistibly  fascinated  them,  that  like 
persons  infatuated,  they  have  been  half  ready  to 
regret  having  been  brought  out  of  Egypt,  and 
have  almost  envied  the  children  of  this  world — 
if  not  their  "  drunkenness,  revellings,  and  such 
like,"  yet  at  least  their  more  refined  and  reputable 
enjoyments.  Music  frequently  is  one  of  the 
wings  with  which  the  adversary  fledges  the  im- 
agination of  human  souls,  that  they  may  be 
carried  off  to  those  mountains  of  enchantment^ 
where  the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  and  the  glory 
of  them,  appear  invested  with  fascinations  and 
splendours  that  dissipate  every  thing  like  spiritu- 


THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN.  229 

ality,  generate  false  security,  amuse  with  dreams 
of  sublunary  bliss,  foster  sensuality  and  all  man- 
ner of  excess,  and,  if  almighty  grace  prevent  not, 
decide  the  soul's  course  to  irretrievable  perdition. 

XIV.  Satan's  demand  and  promise. 

At  the  moment  when,  by  the  working  of  Satan, 
the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  and  the  glory  of 
them,  were  presented  to  our  Saviour's  eye,  the 
adversary,  in  spite  of  himself,  and  of  his  aflecta- 
tion  of  majesty  and  dignity,  begins  to  betray  his 
real  character.  For  as  if  he  had  now  forgotten 
his  long-accustomed  art  of  dissimulation,  he  ad- 
dresses him,  saying,  "  All  this  power  will  I  give 
thee,  and  the  glory  of  them  :  for  that  is  delivered 
unto  me ;  and  to  whomsoever  I  will,  I  give  it.  If 
thou  therefore  wilt  worship  me,  all  shall  be  thine," 
Luke  iv.  6,  7.  Here,  then,  the  devil  claimed  as  his 
own,  the  power  and  glory  of  the  world.  How 
dreadful,  and  yet  alas,  how  true,  that  the 
whole  world  lieth  in  the  wicked  one  !  Thus  the 
father  of  lies  himself  spake  truth  for  once  ;  for 
by  the  righteous  sentence  of  God,  the  whole 
world  is  actually  in  the  hands  of  Satan.  Satan 
still  remains  at  present  "  the  prince  of  this  world," 
John  xii.  31 ;  xiv.  30  ;  xvi.  11 ;  yea,  "  the  god  of 
this  world,"  2  Cor.  iv.  4 ;  for  the  vast  majority  of 
souls  upon  earth  still  remain  willing  slaves  to  his 
yoke.  The  greatest  number  of  countries  pay  him 
tribute,  and  his  dark  banners  wave  on  the  ram- 


230  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

parts  of  most  cities.  Who  can  number  the  hun- 
dreds of  millions  whose  souls  he  secures  in  his 
manifold  chains,  in  the  bands  of  sin  and  ignorance, 
in  countless  spiritual  prisons  and  cells,  under 
Mohammedan  imposture,  or  in  pagan  idolatry ; 
in  the  strong  delusions  of  the  Talmud,  or  un- 
der the  dogmas  of  the  seven  hills  ;  in  Heaven- 
defying  rationalism,  pantheism,  or  atheism. 
Surely  without  any  arrogant  claim  Satan  might 
say,  "  All  this  is  mine  !"  For  the  little  which  is 
not  his,  the  "lodge  in  the  garden  of  cucumbers," 
the  "worm  Jacob,"  the  despised  handful  of  Israel, 
is,  as  compared  to  the  giant  domains  of  this 
prince  of  fallen  angels,  but  as  a  drop  to  the  ocean. 
What  is  there  in  the  whole  world  that  the  devil 
has  not  usurped  for  the  extension  and  establish- 
ment of  his  kingdom,  and  made  subservient,  es- 
pecially in  the  present  age,  to  his  infernal  plans? 
Are  not  most  of  our  pulpits  and  professional 
chairs  still  his  ?  May  not  the  same  be  said  of  the 
greater  part  of  our  public  journals  and  news- 
papers ?  Are  not  our  assemblies,  associations, 
and  clubs,  chiefly  devoted  to  his  service?  And 
which  of  the  sciences  or  of  the  fine  arts  is  ex- 
empt from  perversion  to  his  interests?  Almost 
every  thing  in  the  world  has  he  contrived  to 
draw  by  little  and  little  into  subservience  to  his 
cause.  Who  deals  out  poetry  in  that  deluge  of 
romance  and  comedy  which  inundates  the  world 
with  millions  of  infidel  falsehoods,  and  unholy 
ideas  ?     Who  is  the  invisible  manager  and  con- 


THE  DEPTHS  OF  SATAN.        231 

ductor  of  those  sensual  operas,  elysian  concerts, 
and  other  entertainments,  whereby  music,  that 
gift  bestowed  to  praise  withal  the  perfections  of 
Jehovah,  stands  prominent  as  the  destroyer  of 
souls,  because  it  is  now  made  to  breathe  subtle 
poison  into  human  hearts  ?  Who  is  it  that  has 
stationed  his  camp  behind  the  ramparts  of  mo- 
dern philosophy^  and  aims  from  thence  to  inflict 
the  most  wicked  and  deadly  blows  on  the  gospel 
of  peace  ?  Who  is  it  that  has  schemed  and  palm- 
ed upon  Christendom  that  fashionable  modern  re- 
ligion sweetened  with  effeminate  taste,  and  spiced 
with  lax  and  godless  morality,  which  lulls  peo- 
ple into  a  deep  spiritual  slumber,  from  which 
but  too  late  the  thunder  of  judgment  will  awa- 
ken them  ?  From  whom  does  all  this  original- 
ly proceed  but  from  the  father  of  lies,  the  old 
serpent,  the  dragon  of  the  bottomless  pit  ?  Nor 
let  us  be  surprised  that  he  even  speaks  of  "  giv- 
ing" what  is  certainly  within  the  compass  of  his 
power  :  "All  these  things  will  i  give  thee,  if 
thou  wilt  fall  down  and  worship  me."  There 
are  gifts  Satanical  as  well  as  gifts  Divine ;  and 
the  world  has  always  abounded  with  persons 
who  have  owed  their  enjoyments,  treasures, 
honours,  titles,  and  rank,  to  Satanical  ministra- 
tion or  superintendence.  For  our  great  adver- 
sary has  always  his  pay  and  his  prize-money  in 
readiness  for  any  who  will  follow  his  banner, 
and  he  has  various  methods  of  handsomely  re- 
numerating  their  zeal  in  his  service.     Nor  is  it 


232        TBE  DEPTHS  OP  SATAN. 

uncommon  for  God  to  permit  his  putting  into 
the  possession  of  worldly  and  abandoned  persons 
such  an  abundance  of  the  enjoyments  and  glory 
of  this  world,  such  large  and  fat  pastures  of  flesh- 
ly delight,  that  at  length  almost  the  last  trace  of 
what  is  human  becomes  effaced  in  these  vessels 
of  wrath,  and  they  go  on   their  way  to  destruc- 
tion, as  the  ox  ffoeth  to  the  slaughter,  Phil.  iii.  19. 
"All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou  wilt 
fall  down  and  worship  me."     What  a  proposal ! 
that  the  Son  of  the  living  God  should  be  solicit- 
ed to  bow  the  knee  of  adoration  to  "  the  old  ser- 
pent !"     The  blasphemous   demand,  audacious 
as  it  was,  we   hardly  know  how  to  reconcile 
with    the    craft  and  subtlety   of  the  devil,  till 
we  have  considered  the  desperate  and  infatuated 
state  to  which  he  had  arrived.     He  felt  his  as- 
sumed veil  of  angelic  light  gliding  from  off  him, 
and  he  presaged  with  a  painful  certainty  who 
the  Person  was  with  whom  he  had  undertaken 
to  contend.     The  decided  triumphs   which  the 
Lord  had  already  obtained  over  his  most  refined 
and  subtle  artifices,  permitted  him  no  longer  to 
doubt  that  the  Holy  Person  he  tempted  was  the 
very  Messiah,  the  Only  Begotten  of  the  Father. 
The  prospect,  therefore,  of  dangers  now  threat- 
ening the  dominion  he  had  so  long  maintained, 
put  him  to  no  little  embarrassment.     Thus,  im- 
petuous hate  dictating  his  last  decisive  stroke, 
his  recollection  is  impeded  by  passion,  and  his 
usual  wise  self-possession  is  lost  in  the  waves  of 


THE    DEPTHS   OF    SATAN.  233 

despair  raging  horribly  within  him.  Indeed  it 
was  not  till  he  was  assured  respecting  the  person 
of  his  antagonist,  that  he  became  conscious  of  the 
whole  importance  and  eventfulness  of  the  con- 
flict, and  that  one  or  the  other  must  fall.  Yet  this 
his  last  assault,  great  as  is  the  art  and  power  dis- 
played in  it,  was  the  worst  conducted.  It  was  like 
the  impetuosity  of  a  combatant  giving  up  all  for 
lost,  who  blindly  rushes  upon  the  point  of  his 
enemy's  sword.  Satan  here  appears  to  have 
hoped  for  nothing  more  than  to  outrage  the  Mes- 
siah's dignity,  by  the  most  insulting  refusal  to 
acknowledge  it.  In  this  desperation  he  displays 
the  kingdoms  of  this  world  and  the  glory  of  them, 
saying,  "All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou 
wilt  fall  down  and  worship  me." 

From  the  circumstance  of  Christ's  refusing  to 
exhibit  those  miraculous  proofs  of  his  Messiah- 
ship  which  Satan  had  required,  it  is  possible  that 
the  devil  had  imagined  him  to  be,  not  the  God- 
man,  but  only  some  great  and  holy  person  mere- 
ly human,  upon  whom,  therefore,  he  could  still 
make  some  further  demand,  and  whom  he  could 
approach  in  a  more  undisguised  and  unreserved 
manner.  But  the  explanation  already  given  ap- 
pears far  the  more  probable.  As,  therefore,  the 
present  demand  of  Satan  was  an  act  of  despera- 
tion, so  it  was  probably  rather  a  sudden  ebulli- 
tion of  blasphemous  rage  and  diabolical  scorn 
than  a  plotted  temptation.  Christ's  faithful  fol- 
lowers have  in  every  age  been  assaulted  in  much 
20 


234  THE    DEPTHS    OP    SATAN. 

the  same  manner.  Their  souls  have  had  to  re- 
coil at  the  most  horrible  and  impious  require- 
ments, and  to  shrink  at  many  a  thought  so  blas- 
phemous and  dreadful,  that  they  shudder  even  to 
remember  it.  But  be  of  good  courage,  my  tried 
and  tempted  brethren.  Consider,  that  though 
the  devil  may  rage  against  you  with  these  buffet- 
ing and  onsets,  it  is  because  of  his  vexation  and 
chagrin,  at  knowing  that  he  never  shall  be  able 
finally  to  prevail  or  have  dominion  over  you. 
Regard,  therefore,  such  temptations  as  nothing 
more  than  the  impotent  resentments  of  a  disabled 
adversary,  who,  because  he  is  no  match  for  you 
with  sword  or  stratagem,  would  fain  pelt  you 
with  stones  and  mire  to  display  his  insolence  and 
give  vent  to  his  rage. 

XV.  The  issue  of  the  conflict. 

The  blasphemous  demand,  grounded  on  the 
glory  and  pleasure  which  Satan  had  the  effronte- 
ry to  offer,  had  now  very  evidently  betrayed  the 
character  of  its  agent.  Were  these  the  good 
things  which  Satan  had  to  bestow,  and  did  he 
even  require  homage  and  adoration  for  them? 
Jesus  knew  him.  The  holy  soul  of  our  unblem- 
ished High-Priest  turns  away  with  disdain  and 
abhorrence  from  the  imagery  of  vanity  and  lust 
which  Satan  had  presented  to  him.  The  majes- 
ty of  the  Only  Begotten,  to  whom  all  power  is 
given  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  breaks  forth  like 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  235 

the  sun  from  behind  a  cloud,  and  utters,  "  Get 
thee  behind  me,  Satan  :  for  it  is  written,  Thou 
Shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only 
Shalt  thou  serve."  The  devil  was  silenced  ;  the 
conflict  ended  for  a  season ;  and  the  Lamb  of 
God  came  forth  triumphantly,  pure  and  without 
spot.  By  his  own  obedience  of  faith  in  the  writ- 
ten word,  he  vanquished  the  tempter. 

Similar  temptations  are  still  not  uncommon. 
Even  the  holiest  persons  have   had  to  acknow- 
ledge that  there  are  seasons  when  manifold  plea- 
sures, possessions,  and  relative  circumstances,  to 
which  they  had  considered  themselves,  through 
the  grace  of  God,  long  ago  dead,  have  suddenly 
revived  in  the  most  attractive  form  to  their  ima- 
gination, and  that  the  senses  and  worldly  lusts 
of  our  fallen  nature  have  thus  again  been  stirred 
to  a  very  dangerous  degree.     For  at  such  sea- 
sons the  devil  leaves  no  means  untried  for  making 
the  soul  his  victim  once  more.     He  suddenly  and 
surprisingly  suggests,  before  we  have  time  to 
recollect  ourselves,  what  is  much  the  same  as  if 
he  said,  "  All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou 
wilt  fall  down  and  worship  me."      It  is  only 
some  little  difficulty  that  we  have  to  surmount, 
or  some  little  compliance  that  we  have  to  make, 
in  order  to  become  possessed  of  glories  and  gol- 
den mountains,  honours,  riches,   and  pleasures. 
It  is  only  a  little  deviation  from  rectitude,  which 
no  human  being  perhaps  may  know  of,  only 
some  slight  and  momentary  act  of  homage  to  be 


236  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

paid  to  the  wicked  one,  and  then  all  is  ours.  O 
my  beloved  brethren,  the  foils  of  David  and  of 
Solomon  are  not  the  only  instances  in  which 
God's  children  have  yielded  such  obeisance  to  the 
devil  for  the  sake  of  a  single  draught  from  the  in- 
toxicating cup  of  sin.  Now,  in  whatever  man- 
ner this  may  have  been  done,  we  pity  our  bre- 
thren who  have  submitted  to  the  degradation  ;  we 
despise  them  not.  Our  own  heart  tells  us  very 
plainly  what  we  are  in  ourselves,  how  attractive 
to  us  the  things  of  the  world  can  be  made  to  ap- 
pear, and  with  what  beguiling  charms  the  adver- 
sary can  disguise  its  vanities  and  lusts.  We 
know  it,  and  therefore  we  pray  every  hour, 
"  Lord,  lead  us  not  into  temptation  !" 

And  who  can  doubt  that  it  is  a  temptation  from 
the  wicked  one,  whe!i  we  are  plied  with  such  en- 
chanting visions  and  shameless  demands  ?  The 
very  nature  of  those  possessions  and  enjoyments 
so  plausibly  offered  to  us,  and  especially  the 
ways  and  means  proposed  to  us  for  their  attain- 
ment, betray  their  author.  jHere  he  cannot  be 
said  to  come  to  us  as  an  angel  of  light ;  there- 
fore in  so  far  is  our  conflict  the  less  difficult. 
And  yet  we  do  not  quit  the  field  without  receiv- 
ing some  wound.  Werarely,  if  ever,  turn  away 
from  the  world's  fascinations  without  some  stir 
of  unholy  desire  :  nay,  it  is  well  if  we  do  not  de- 
part from  the  conflict  naked  and  wounded  ;  and 
why  ?  because  the  weapon  with  which  Jesus  so 
easily  repelled  the  tempter  is  not  employed  by 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 


237 


ourselves  on  every  similar  occasion.  We  do  not 
insist  enough  that  it  is  written,  "Thou  shalt 
worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt 
thou  serve."  This  word  embraced  as  the  word 
of  God,  and  used  in  faith,  will  make  the  strong- 
est darts  as  stubble  ;  and  the  enemy  beholdmg 
the  lightning  of  this  armour  flashing  from  ourbo- 
soms,^oses  all  hope  of  persuading  us  to  the  small- 
est compliance,  or  the  least  act  of  homage. 

"  Then   the  devil  leaveth  him ;  and,  behold, 
ano-els  came  and  ministered  unto  him."     Such 
wa^'s  the  final  issue  of  that  great  and  eventful 
conflict  with  Satan,  who  never  went  away  m 
more  confusion,  discomfiture  and  chagrm,  than 
now  from  the  most  dreaded  enemy  of  his  kmg- 
dom.     To  be  so  totally  defeated,  was  as  intolera- 
ble to  him  as  it  was  unusual.     Like  a  dark  thun- 
der-cloud of  night  driven  away  by  tempestuous 
winds,  so  did  he  depart  in  wrath  and  despair, 
ready  to  call  on  the  mountains  to  fall  on  him,  and 
the  hills  to  cover  him,  and  hide  from  him  the  hea- 
vens above,  and  the  abyss  beneath,  that  he  might 
no  longer  hear  the  halleluiahs  of  heaven,  nor  the 
murmurs  of  hell,  at  his  ignominious  overthrow. 

As  for  our  blessed  Lord,  it  was  well  with  him  : 
oh  how  well,  after  forty  days  of  dreadful  destitu- 
tion in  a  wilderness,  amidst  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness, (for  during  the  whole  forty  days,  as  St. 
Luke  informs  us,  was  he  tempted,)  to  find  him- 
self restored  at  once  to  his  own  element,  amidst 
the  affectionate  and  reverend  ministrations  of 
20* 


238  THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN. 

holy  angels  of  God  !  Now,  indeed,  was  fulfilled 
what  Jacob  had  prophetically  uttered  on  his 
death-bed,  "Judah  is  a  young  lion  ;  thou  hast 
become  exalted,  my  son,  by  great  victory.  He 
kneeled  down,  and  he  reposed  as  a  lion,  yea,  as 
a  lioness;  who  shall  rise  against  him?"  Gen. 
xlix.  9.  But  this  "  repose  "  was  not  the  grand 
termination  of  the  conflict ;  it  was  only  a  brief 
suspension.  "  Satan,"  as  St.  Luke  relates,  "  de- 
parted from  him  for  a  season,''^  Luke  iv.  13. 
It  was  not  long  before  he  exerted  his  utmost 
against  him,  continuing  to  persecute  him  by 
stratagem  and  war,  till  at  length  the  mighty  Cap- 
tain of  our  salvation,  by  his  death  upon  the  cross, 
wrested  the  dominion  for  ever  from  his  hands. 
No  sooner  had  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  of  God 
been  shed  upon  the  accursed  tree,  than  the  head 
of  the  old  serpent  was  bruised  for  ever. 

Our  own  Christian  life,  too,  my  brethren,  can 
throughout  be  no  other  than  a  conflict.  We 
shall  have  in  this  our  wilderness  some  days  of 
respite  and  even  of  jubilee  ;  but  the  complete  un- 
interrupted sabbath  can  only  be  beyond.  While 
sojourning  in  these  frail  tabernacles,  we  must 
ever  be  exposed  to  the  assaults  of  the  adversary. 
Though  his  power  is  efiectually  broken,  still  he 
will  not  cease  in  this  world  to  make  us  feel  his 
"great  wrath,"  and  hatred,  in  various  ways.  But 
"  fear  none  of  these  things,"  my  brethren.  Re- 
joice rather  with  thankfulness  unto  God,  who 
giveth  us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus 


THE    DEPTHS    OF    SATAN.  239 

Christ.  All  the  triumphs  obtained  by  our  Surety 
become  our  own  by  faith.  In  Him  we  already 
anticipate  the  final  triumph.  We  triumph  in 
Christ  in  the  midst  of  the  conflict,  and  in  the 
arms  of  death.  At  our  latter  end,  if  not  before, 
we  are  found  more  than  conquerors  through  Him 
that  loved  us.  Oh  the  blessedness  of  this  truth, 
and  the  blessedness  of  that  faith  which  receives 
it !  Wherever  such  a  faith  lives,  courage  will 
not  be  wanting  to  stand  in  the  evil  day;  for 
though  in  the  heat  of  trial  we  may  droop  for  a 
moment,  yet  will  the  feeble  knees  be  quickly  re- 
invigorated  by  such  a  faith  as  this.  Happy  then 
art  thou,  O  Israel  !  who  is  like  unto  thee,  a  peo- 
ple SAVED  by  THE  LoRD,  who  is  the  shield  of 
thine  help,  and  the  sword  of  thy  victorious  ex- 
cellency ?  Thine  enemies  shall  fail  in  their  as- 
saults on  thee  ;  but  thou  shalt  walk  at  liberty 
upon  their  high  places  !  Deut.  xxxiii.  29.  Amen. 


THE  ROCK  OF  SALVATION. 


Romans  iii.  25 — 26. 

Whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in 
his  blood,  to  declare  his  righteousness  for  the  remission  of 
sins  that  are  past,  through  the  forbearance  of  God  ;  to  de- 
clare, I  say,  at  this  lime  his  righteousness:  that  he  might 
be  just,  and  the  justifier  of  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus. 

These  are  important  words,  my  friends,  which 
we  have  before  us.  They  form  a  ground-work 
and  a  principal  pillar,  which  upholds  the  most 
essential  article  of  the  Christian  faith.  I  know 
of  no  passage  in  the  whole  of  Holy  Writ  which 
is  of  more  importance  in  order  to  a  clear,  cor- 
rect, and  complete  apprehension  of  the  Scrip- 
tural doctrine  of  the  atonement,  than  this.  It 
may  certainly  not  appear  to  you,  at  first  sight, 
that  such  is  the  case  ;  and  it  is  remarkable,  that 
for  several  centuries  this  passage  continued  in 
the  church  as  if  sealed  up,  and  under  lock  and 
key.  It  is  true,  tLat  in  former  times  it  might 
have  been  less  necessary  in  the  Christian  church 
than  it  is  in  the  present  day.  With  respect  to 
the  manner  in  which  Christ  accomplished  the 
reconciliation  between  God  and  the  sinner,  there 
was  only  one  opinion  and  one  doctrine ;  it  was 


THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION.  241 

preached  in  every  pulpit,  and  was  the  general 
confession,  and  whoever  deviated  from  it,  would 
not,  with  his  heresy,  have  escaped  the  tribunal 
of  the  church.  In  the  present  day,  the  case  is 
otherwise.  Many  views  of  the  work  of  atone- 
ment are  become  current,  which  deviate  from 
the  doctrine  of  the  church — views,  which  all 
tend  to  divest  the  doctrine  of  the  cross  of  its 
foolishness,  and  to  bring  it  somewhat  nearer  to 
human  ideas  and  rational  comprehension.  But 
it  is  in  its  foolishness  that  the  peculiar  sweetness 
of  the  doctrine  of  the  atonement  lies  concealed  ; 
therefore  we  will  not  suffer  ourselves,  on  any 
account,  to  be  deprived  of  this  foolishness. 

In  the  passage  we  have  read,  there  lies  a  gi- 
gantic sword  against  these  false  and  derogatory 
views  of  the  doctrine  of  the  cross,  which  over- 
turns them  all ;  and  it  shall  be  the  object  of  our 
present  meditation  briefly  to  expound  it  accord- 
ing to  its  original  meaning.  Our  discourse  will 
attain  a  two-fold  aim  :  first,  as  a  preparatory  dis- 
course for  the  passion-week,  it  will  elevate  us  to 
the  only  correct  point  of  view,  from  whence  we 
ought  to  contemplate  the  whole  history  of  our 
Lord's  passion  ;  and  secondly,  as  a  monitory 
discourse,  it  will  display  to  the  sinners  amongst 
us,  who  have  no  Saviour,  that  throne  which 
burns  with  flames  of  fire,  and  if  it  please  God, 
kindle  in  their  soul  a  salutary  dread — not  indeed 
to  urge  them  to  despair,  but  to  a  godly  sorrow. 
We  consider  Christ  crucified, 


242  THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION. 

I.    As  THE  PROPITIATION  ; 
II.    As       THE      MANIFEST      PROOF      OF       THE 
RIGHTEOUSNESS  OF  GoD  ; 

III.  As  THE  SOLUTION  OF  THE  GREATEST 
PROBLEM  IN  THE  AVORLD. 

I.  The  chapter  from  which  our  text  is  taken, 
contains  a  powerful  discourse  on  the  righteous- 
ness which  is  by  faith.  Amongst  other  things 
it  is  said,  "  But  now  the  righteousness  which  is 
by  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  is  unto  all,  and  upon  all 
them  that  believe— for  there  is  no  difference  ;  for 
all  have  sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of 
God ;  hence  they  are  justified  freely  by  his 
grace,  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ 
Jesus.  Of  this  redemption  the  Apostle  goes  on 
to  speak  in  our  text,  and  tells  ns,  first  of  all,  that 
"  God  has  set  forth  Jesus  Christ  to  be  a  propitia- 
tion through  faith  in  his  blood."  Some  are  of 
opinion  that  the  Apostle  here  alludes  to  the  ark 
of  the  covenant ;  and  of  this  there  is  no  doubt. 
But  I  cannot  concur  with  the  view  usually 
taken,  according  to  which  the  ark  itself  is  re- 
garded as  a  type  of  Christ.  This  ark,  conceal- 
ing within  it  the  law,  like  a  threatening  sword 
in  its  scabbard,  stood  behind  a  double  veil,  in 
the  solitary  darkness  of  the  marble  sanctuary, 
overshadowed  by  the  wings  of  golden  cherubim, 
which  are  every  where  emblems  of  Divine  ma- 
jesty and  dignity,  and  concealed  from  every 
eye.     No  one  was  permitted  to  approach  it,  and 


THE    ROCK   OF    SALVATION.  243 

he  that  touched  the  ark  was  put  to  death.  Even 
the  high-priest  appeared  only  once  a  year  near 
it,  on  the  day  of  atonement ;  and  then,  also,  not 
without  sacriHce  and  sprinkling  of  blood.  All 
which  are  indications  of  estrangement  and  vari- 
ance, and  not  of  reconciliation  and  favour. 

The  ark,  in  itself,  was  a  symbol  solely  of  the 
majestic  and  irritated  Deity  ;  and  the  golden  lid 
which  covered  it,  and  which  is  generally  regard- 
ed as  a  type  of  Christ — inasmuch  as  Christ 
covers  the  law,  and  is  the  end  of  the  law — was 
only  a  figure  of  the  Divine  holiness,  which  in- 
sists, with  inexorable  firmness,  on  the  keeping 
of  its  laws,  and  cannot  desist  from  its  command- 
ments. If  this  covering  had  typified  Christ,  the 
approach  to  the  ark  would  then  have  been  more 
free  and  less  dangerous.  Rut  the  approach  to  it 
was  only  free  from  danger,  when  the  high  priest 
drew  near  to  it,  with  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice, 
and  seven  times  sprinkled  with  it  the  gold- 
en covering.  God  then  revealed  himself  favour- 
ably above  the  ark.  By  this  sprinkling  of  the 
lid  or  mercy-seat  with  the  sacrificial  blood,  it 
became  a  type  of  the  Divine  holiness,  which 
was  appeased  by  the  sacrifice  of  Christ ;  and 
thus  God — of  course  typically — was  reconciled  ; 
and  then  the  consolation  of  forgiveness  was  con- 
nected with  the  believing  view  of  the  mercy -seat. 
Now  this  was  the  shadow ;  but  here,  Paul  in- 
tends to  say,  is  the  true  propitiary — the  holiness 
of  Godj  appeased  by  blood  in  Christ  Jesus.     He 


244  THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION. 

who  looks  at  him  shall  live  :  he  that  approaches 
to  him  has  nothing  to  fear.  His  name  is  Iqi- 
raanuel,  God  with  us  in  Christ  Jesus. 

The  Apostle  therefore  means  to  tell  us  nothing 
else  than  what  John  announces,  in  plain  terms, 
in  his  first  epistle,  "  Jesus  Christ  is  the  propitia- 
ation  for  our  sins."     He  is  the  propitiation — not 
merely  a  propitiator,  but  the  propitiation  itself. 
Not  by  this  means  or  that,  but  by  his  own  per- 
son, he  filled  up  the  gulf,  which  was  fixed  be- 
tween us  and  God  ;  with  his  own  flesh  he  heal- 
ed the  dreadful  breach   which  sin  had  made  ; 
with  his  own   self  he  built  the  golden  bridge, 
which  re-united  heaven  and  earth.     The  recon- 
ciliation of  God  with  the  sinner  has  its  founda- 
tion in  him ;  not  in  the  doctrine  which  he  has 
brought  us,  nor  in  the  regeneration   which  he 
has  wrought  in  us;  but  in  his  own  person,  and 
that  exclusively.     Before  even  a  spark  of  the 
new  life   glimmered  in  me,   and  religion  was 
still  a  stumbling  block  and  foolishness  to  me, 
the  eye  of  God  had  already  looked  upon  me  in 
love  ;  how  should  I   otherwise  have  ever  been 
converted,    and    incorporated   into  his  people? 
And  whilst  I  was  any  thing  else  than  reconciled 
to  God,  but  was  still  his  enemy,  God  was  already 
reconciled  to  me,  because  Christ  had  accomplish- 
ed the  reconciliation  without  me. 

Christ  is  therefore  the  propitiation ;  and  the 
matter  is  by  no  means  to  be  considered  as  if  he 
first  made  the  reconciliation  by  inclining  my 


THE    ROCK   OF    SALVATION.  245 

heart  in  love  to  the  Almighty  ;  in  that  case  the 
reason  would  he  in  me,  why  God  was  my  friend. 
But  it  Ues  out  of  me,  in  the  person  who  bleeds 
on  the  cross  ;  and  this  is  my  consolation,  my 
anchorage,   and   the    rock    of   my   confidence. 
Christ  is  the  propitiation,  because  he,  if  I  may 
so  say,  is  the  storm  which  has  dispelled  the  clouds 
of  wrath  from  the  brow  of  the  Almighty ;  be- 
cause he  endured  the  punishment  we  had  merit- 
ed, and,   atoning  Divine  justice   with   himself, 
unfettered  the   stream  of  love  in   the  Eternal 
breast,  which  now  flows  down  uninterruptedly 
upon  the  world.     The  consuming  fire  upon  the 
throne  he  has  changed  for  us  into  a  gracious 
God  ;  has  transfigured  the  countenance,  in  which 
we  read  the  sentence  of  death,  into   a  blissful 
fatherly  countenance,  without  us,  and  entirely 
by  himself;   and  has  thus  rescued  his  chosen 
people  as  a  brand  out  of  the  burning  ;  hence  he 
is  called  the  propitiation. 

The  Apostle  now  states  further  respecting 
Christ,  this  living  propitiation,  that  "  God  hath 
set  him  forth"  as  such.  Doubtless  the  Apostle 
had  here  something  more  in  view  than  the  man- 
ifestation of  Christ :  he  does  not  merely  intend 
to  point  out  how  God  set  him  forth,  by  sending 
him  into  the  world,  afterwards  by  exhibiting  him 
upon  the  cross,  and  finally,  by  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  before  the  eyes  of  the  heathen.  The 
stone  on  which  it  was  intended  that  all  the  world 
should  unhesitatingly  erect  the  edifice  of  their 
21 


246  THE    ROCK   OF    SALVATION'. 

salvation  and  their  hope,  was  not  to  be  moveable, 
but  firm  as  the  everlasting  hills,  and  receive 
from  the  throne  of  the  Divine  Majesty,  a  solemn 
and  unequivocal  sanction  ; — and  such  also  was 
the  case.  I  remind  you  of  the  voice  of  God 
from  heaven  respecting  him,  and  of  the  testi- 
mony of  the  angels,  that  he  was  the  Saviour  ;  of 
the  witness  which  the  skies  bore  to  him  when 
hanging  on  the  cross,  by  clothing  themselves  in 
mourning,  and  of  the  sun,  when  he  veiled  his 
face ;  of  the  earth,  which  trembled  with  joy 
under  the  dev/  of  his  blood,  and  of  the  graves 
which  opened  themselves  beneath  it,  and  yield- 
ed up  their  prisoners.  And  then  also  of  the 
glory  of  the  third  day,  and  of  the  resurrection  of 
the  sleeping  lion  from  his  couch ;  of  the  victori- 
ous plaudits  of  the  rending  rocks,  of  the  glory 
of  God  around  the  re-awakened  bleeding  form, 
and  of  the  crowning  of  this  sacrificial  lamb  with 
glory  and  honour.  These  are  the  loud  blasts  of 
the  trumpet  during  which  the  mercy-seat  was 
erected  ;  this  the  Divine  character  and  name  by 
which  the  rock  of  salvation  was  countersigned 
and  sealed.  God  has  established,  proclaimed, 
and  verified  Christ  as  the  Man  of  our  hopes. 
This  is  also  what  the  Apostle  gives  us  to  under- 
stand. 

Christ,  as  the  propitiation,  says  the  Apostle 
further,  is  given  to  faith,  "  Whom  God  hath  set 
forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his 
blood."    Faith  places  us  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 


THE    ROCK   OF    SALVATION. 


247 


blissful  fellowship  of  this  man,  who  is  himself 
the  propitiation.     This  faith  is  a  powerful  m- 
ward  process,  and  an  act  of  the  soul  which  sur- 
passes all  human  power.     In  this  faith  the  man 
lets  go  of  himself,  and  throws  himself  helplessly 
upon  the  merits  of  another,  like  a  shipwrecked 
mariner  catches  at  the  plank.     In  this  faith,  the 
individual  becomes  totally  powerless,  according 
to  the  spirit,  and  sinks  into  Jesus'  arms,  or  else 
he  would  sink  into  despair.     In  this  faith,  the 
man  capitulates,  like  a  fortress  in  flames,  and 
exchanges  the  honour  of  being  able  to  help  him- 
self, for°the  blissful  disgrace  of  living  by  grace. 
In  this  faith  we  cast  ourselves  down  a  precipice, 
and  on  the  way  we  catch  hold  of  a  root— the 
root  of  Jesse.     "  Lord  Jesus  preserve  me,  have 
mercy   upon   me  !"— this  is   the  act  of  faith  ; 
something  violent,  and,  without  God,  impossible. 
Paul  descriminates  real  faith  still  more  minute- 
ly.    He  calls  it  a  belief,  not  on,  but  in  the  blood 
of  Christ.     This  blood  is  the  peculiar  element  of 
faith,  and  the  atmosphere  in  which  it  lives  its 
real  and  complete  life.     Its  home  is  on  the  sac- 
rificial place  of  the  great  High  Priest,  and  its 
abiding  residence  on  the  blood-stained  altar  of 
Immanuel.     In  Gethsemane  are  the  arbours  in 
which  it  most  loves  to  rest,  and  it  keeps  its  festi- 
vals beneath  the  cross.     It  is  a  bee— and  the 
wounds  of  Jesus  are  its  flowers  ;  a  dove— and  on 
Calvary   is  its  olive  tree;  a  swan— and  Jesus' 
blood  is  the  lake,  on  which  it  glides  in  proud  re- 


248  THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION. 

pose.  The  death  of  the  Son  of  God  is  the  spring 
which  nourishes  and  refreshes  it;  the  passion  of 
the  Mediator,  the  green  pasture  on  which  it  feeds  ; 
in  the  mystery  of  the  cross  it  hves  and  moves ; 
and  as  long  as  it  has  not  found  that  resting- 
place,  the  sparrow  has  not  found  its  house,  nor 
the  swallow  its  nest.  Wherever  this  faith  in  his 
blood  resides,  there  Christ  is  a  propitiation^ 
The  man  becomes  conscious  that  he  is  now  re- 
conciled, and  thus  he  reposes  on  the  bosom  of 
God.  His  pacified  conscience  tells  him  so,  and 
the  peace  in  his  heart.  He  perceives  it  in  the 
paths  of  his  life.  He  feels  that  he  is  led  by  the 
hand  of  Eternal  Love,  and  by  the  leading-strings 
of  Divine  Mercy :  and  daily  does  he  receive,  in  a 
manifold  manner,  the  most  unequivocal  proofs, 
that  he  is  now  made  acceptable  to  God  in  the 
Beloved. 

n.  After  the  Apostle  has  informed  us  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  our  propitiation,  he  shows  us 
how  he  became  so.  And,  lo  !  near  the  throne 
of  grace  appears  the  throne  which  blazes  with 
flames  of  fire.     Tremble,  ye  sinners  ! 

"  God  hath  set  forth  Christ  to  be  a  propitiation 
through  faith  in  his  blood  " — it  is  now  said,  far- 
ther, "  to  declare  his  righteousness  for  the  remis- 
sion of  sins  that  are  past,  through  the  forbearance 
of  God."  Do  you  hear  ?  Calvary  is  a  scene  of 
vengeance,  the  cross  a  gibbet,  and  the  bleed- 
ing form  upon  it  a  living  proof  of  the  retributive 
justice  of  God.     My  God  !  how  well  thou  art 


THE    ROCK   OF   SALVATION.  249 

able  to  demonstrate  and  to  vindicate  thine  hon- 
our ! 

It  is  true,  that  until  the  death  of  Christ,  the 
hoHness  and  retributive  justice  of  God  were  ob- 
scured.   Notwithstanding  all  the  storms  of  wrath, 
which  at  various  times  darkened  the  horizon  of 
the  earth — the  patience  and  forbearance  of  God 
still  beamed  in  a  much  clearer  light  than  his 
fiery  indignation  and  his  vengeance.     The  whole 
heathen  world,  which  had  long  merited  a  second 
dehige,  had  prosecuted  its  abominations,  unhin- 
dered, from  century  to  century,  under  the  shield 
of  Divine  forbearance.     The  people  of  Israel — 
that  stiff-necked  race  ! — worthy  of  the  fate  of  a 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  was  still  treated  as  a  fa- 
vourite child,  and  borne  by  the  Lord  upon  ea- 
gles' wings.     Reprobate  hordes,  like  those  at  Ni- 
neveh, at  length  repent ;  and  immediately  all  is 
well,  the  sin  is  covered,  and  they  are  pardoned 
without  delay.     Sinners,  such  as  Rahab,  David, 
Solomon,  and  a  thousand  others,  are  called  chil- 
dren of  God  ;  are  watched  over  as  the  apple  of 
his  eye  ;  receive  testimony  that  they  please  God, 
and  are  at  length  received  as  saints  into  heaven 
without  hindrance.     Such  a  mode  of  Divine  pro- 
cedure was  certainly  intended  to  represent  him 
to  the  world  as  a  God,  who  causes  his  sun  to 
shine  upon  the  evil  and  the  good,  and  his  rain  to 
descend  upon  the  just  and  the  unjust ;  who  does 
not  take  any  very  particular  notice  of  sin — and, 
generally  speaking,  cannot  possess  such  an  un- 


250  THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION. 

conditional  and  inexorable  abhorrence  of  sin. 
This  long-suffering  forbearance  was  less  fitted 
for  magnifying  his  holiness  in  the  sight  of  the 
world,  and  imparting  to  it  a  feeling  of  awe  for  his 
majesty.  This  the  Apostle  also  intimates,  when 
he  says,  "  God  hath  set  forth  Christ  to  declare 
his  righteousness  for  the  remission  of  sins  that 
are  past,  through  the  forbearance  of  God ;"  thus 
giving  us  to  understand,  that  this  righteousness 
was  not  only  not  rendered  apparent  by  such  for- 
bearance and  patience,  but,  on  the  contrary,  was 
obscured  and  veiled  from  the  eyes  of  the  world  ; 
and,  on  this  very  account,  in  order  to  be  seen  and 
acknowledged  by  the  world,  a  new  declaration 
and  demonstration  of  it  was  requisite. 

And,  behold !  he  points  us  to  Calvary,  and 
says,  There  he  hangs,  who  is  the  living  proof  of 
the  retributive  justice  of  God  !  We  direct  our 
eyes  thither,  and  the  most  dreadful  and  horrible 
spectacle  which  the  world  ever  beheld,  presents 
itself  to  our  view.  The  fetal  waves  of  the  deluge 
do  not  announce  it  so  loudly,  nor  is  it  so  promi- 
nently written  in  the  smoking  ashes  of  the  vale 
of  Siddim,  the  flames  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
do  not  publish  so  impressively  to  the  world,  how 
righteous  the  Almighty  is,  as  is  manifest  here,  in 
a  manner  sufficient  to  cause  a  stone  to  melt.  The 
man  who  is  bleeding  yonder,  is  God's  Isaac — his 
other  self,  his  only-begotten  child — his  sole, 
whole,  and  entire  love.  It  pleased  this  Son  to 
take  our  part,  to  burden  himself  with  our  sins,  to 


THE-  ROCK    OF    SALVATION.  251 

suffer  our  transgressions  to  be  imputed  to  him, 
and  to  present  himself  with  this  blood-red  bur- 
den before  the  tribunal  of  God.     Brethren,  I  be- 
seech you  1  if  it  had  been  any  way  possible  for 
God  to  let  mercy  take  the  place  of  justice,  and  re- 
tract his  "  Cursed  be  every  one  '."—would  he  not 
have  done  it,  when  his  only  beloved  Son,  the 
Son  of  his  heart,  stood  before  him  as  a  smner,  la- 
den with  our  iniquities  ?     Ah,  if  there  were  any 
thine  capable  of  touching  his  heart,  of  appeasuig 
his  wrath,  of  bending  his  adamantme  justice,  and 
of  inducing  him  to  a  free  amnesty  and  overlook- 
ing of  sin— would  it  not  have  been  the  sight  of 
Him  who  was  the  apple  of  his  eye,  his  Jedidjah, 
his  Christ?     Doubtless,  my  brethren!     But  it 
was  not  possible. 

What  occurs!     Good  God,  what   a   scene! 
The  Father  seizes  the  sword.     Though  his  heart 
bled  within  him,  yet  it  avails  not.     He  waves  it, 
turns  away  his  face,  and-oh,  we  are  ready  to 
cover  our  eyes  and  to  break  out  into  a  cry  of 
horror !— his  only  beloved  Son  is  struck  down 
into  the  dust,  like  a  worm  that  is  trodden  upon, 
and  no  longer  like  a  man  ;  wretched  to  an  ex- 
tent that  no  mortal   had  ever  been.     How  he 
writhes  and  struggles,  groans  and  moans  !  "  My 
soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death! 
Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from 
me  »"     He  utters  the  words  ;  falls  upon  his  face; 
reiterates  them  ;  trembles  in  every  limb,  and  the 
bloody  sweat  presses  itself  from  his  veins.     He 


252  THE    ROCK   OF    SALVATION. 

is  given  into  the  power  of  Satan's  instruments. 
The  pit  has  no  execration,  hell  no  blasphemy, 
which  is  not  spit  forth  against  him.  How  is  the 
fairest  of  the  children  of  men  abused  !  His  vis- 
age spat  upon  and  wounded  ;  his  back  bleeding 
from  the  scourge,  and  his  hands  bound.  With 
a  crown  of  thorns  upon  his  bleeding  head,  he 
totters  to  the  place  of  execution.  O  horror  upon 
horror  !  Nails  are  driven  through  his  hands 
and  his  feet.  Fastened  to  the  accursed  tree,  he 
is  lifted  up  between  heaven  and  earth ;  and  his 
blood,  like  a  rosy  dew,  trickles  down  upon  his 
murderers,  in  order— O  wondrous  recompence  ! 
— to  wash  away  from  them  the  impious  deed  at 
the  moment  of  its  commission.  Languishing  in 
his  solitary  elevation,  behold  him  now  surround- 
ed by  obscurity  and  darkness,— outward  and  in- 
ward night.  The  torture  reaches  its  utmost  ex- 
tremity. O  distress  unparalleled  !  His  soul  is 
in  agony  and  flames,  and  experiences  the  tor- 
ments of  the  damned,  "  My  God,  my  God,  why 
hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?"  He  moans  enough  to 
move  a  stone  to  pity.  He  is  hurled  into  the  pit, 
in  the  spirit,  and  the  most  horrible  of  all  thoughts 
assaults  him — that  of  the  hole  of  the  pit  closing 
upon  him  ;  and  then^O  woe  !  woe  !  if  this  last 
ray  of  light  were  to  vanish — all  would  be  lost, 
and  he  would  fall  into  the  jaws  of  despair.  The 
king  of  terrors  approaches,  enveloped  in  all  his 
horrors— death,  the  power  of  which  Satan  pos- 
sesses.    He  opens  his  jaws,  and  the  Lord  of  all 


THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION.  253 

lords  is  a  bleeding  corpse.     My  God !  how  ap- 
palling, how  terrible  ! 

And  what  is  this,  my  brethren  !  and  for  what 
purpose  these  torments?  Is  this  love  on  the 
part  of  God  ;  or  mercy,  indulgence,  or  forbear- 
ance ?  "  To  declare  his  righteousness,"  exclaims 
the  Apostle ;  and  we  now  know  the  meaning  of 
these  horrors, — fearful  and  terrible !  But  the 
Scriptures  state  it  unequivocally,  definitely,  and 
repeatedly.  Our  tongue  would  else  not  venture 
to  express  it.  They  are  not  purifying  flames, 
which  break  in  upon  Jesus  ;  they  are  not  chas- 
tisements unto  life,  and  strokes  of  the  rod  of  love. 
They  are  the  thunders  of  offended  majesty,  the 
fiery  billows  of  eternal  wrath,  the  flames  of  Di- 
vine vengeance.  It  is  the  blow  of  the  beheading 
sword,  curse,  condemnation,  judicial  execution, 
and  the  recompence  of  transgression  on  the  part 
of  Him,  who  will  not  suffer  himself  to  be  mock- 
ed, "  to  declare  his  righteousness."  The  costs 
are  now  demanded  from  the  Surety,  for  the  for- 
bearance which  God  had  previously  exemplified 
towards  sinners  ;  the  debt  is  now  paid,  which 
the  Almighty  had  remitted  till  that  moment. 
The  ransom  is  now  presented,  in  virtue  of  which 
Adam,  Enoch,  Abraham,  Moses,  and  whatever 
other  name  poor  sinners  may  bear,  are  absolved 
from  the  merited  punishment.  Here  the  abomi- 
nations by  which  Rahab,  David,  Solomon  and 
others  had  merited  hell,  and  which  were  at  that 
time  remitted  them,  receive  their  full  and  due 


254  THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION. 

reward.  All  to  prove  that  God  is  just,  and  does 
not  act  in  an  arbitrary  manner,  nor  according  to 
weak,  illegal,  and  irregular  love.  It  was  on  this 
account  that  Christ  became  a  curse  for  sin,  and 
was  made  sin  ;  was  plunged  into  the  floods  of  woe, 
and  given  up  to  the  torments  of  hell. 

Now  what  say  ye  to  this  declaration  of  the 
living  God  respecting  his  righteousness  ?  Behold, 
the  cross  is  transformed  into  a  tribunal,  and 
Calvary  becomes  the  scene  of  the  glorification  of 
that  God,  who  does  not  suffer  himself  to  be 
mocked.  Yea,  tremble,  ye  sinners,  at  such  a 
sight !  How  shall  the  God,  who  could  not  spare 
nor  overlook  sin  when  he  beheld  it  upon  the  sole- 
beloved  of  his  heart,  overlook  it  in  you,  who  are 
so  deserving  of  his  hatred  ?  Let  the  long-suffering 
and  patience  he  has  hitherto  exercised  towards 
you,  not  deceive  you.  The  vials  of  wrath  are 
filled  for  you  ;  and  before  you  are  aware,  forbear- 
ance is  at  an  end,  justice  takes  the  place  of  mercy, 
and  retains  the  field.  See  how  the  storms  which 
had  slumbered  in  the  heavens  for  thousands  of 
years,  discharge  themselves  on  Calvary ;  and 
how  iniquities,  which  had  long  been  regarded  as 
forgotten,  and  which  during  the  course  of 
centuries  had  experienced  the  most  gracious 
forbearance,  are  subsequently  rewarded.  But 
forbearance  is  not  forgetfulness,  and  if  the  flame 
of  wrath  was  delayed,  it  was  not  on  that  account 
extinguished.  Our  God  is  a  consuming  fire, 
and  his  judgments  in   due  time  overtake  the 


THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION.  255 

aggressor.  Listen  then  to  the  voice  of  alarm 
and  thunder  which  is  directed  to  you  from  the 
cross  of  the  Lamb.  Tremble  at  the  fiery  bil- 
lows, which  you  here  see  roaring  and  going  over 
the  head  of  God's  Mediator  ;  they  are  the  same 
that  shall  devour  the  adversaries.  Rise  up,  there- 
fore !  lay  hold  of  the  horns  of  the  altar,  and  save 
your  souls  in  the  wounds  of  the  Man  with  the 
crown  of  thorns.  Here,  where  you  hear  with 
horror  the  rolling  of  the  thunders  of  Divine 
wrath — here  is  your  city  of  refuge, — here,  and 
no  where  else  ! 

III.  Calvary  is  therefore  a  place  where  all  the 
terrors  of  Divine  Majesty  concentrate  themselves  ; 
the  cross,  a  scaffold,  and  a  place  of  the  horrifying 
revelation  of  that  wrath,  which  burns  down  to 
the  lowest  hell.  Certainly  so  it  is.  That  bloody 
scene  has  however  another  side.  Viewed  from 
the  latter,  Calvary  appears  as  a  hill,  from  whence 
cometh  our  help,  and  as  the  mountain  of  our 
peace  ;  the  cross  as  the  standard  of  our  liberty, 
and  the  true  tree  of  life.  The  greatest  conceiv- 
able problem  is  solved  in  the  cross  of  Christ,  and 
a  contradiction  reconciled,  than  which  there 
could  not  have  been  invented  one  more  striking* 
He  that  dwells  in  Heaven  is  faithful,  just,  and 
holy,  and  a  consuming  fire ;  and  yet  he  must 
pronounce  the  wicked  pious,  and  treat  transgres- 
sors as  righteous.  Is  he  able  to  do  this?  Not 
without  denying  himself,  and  being  at  variance 
with  himself.     We  cannot  judge  otherwise  but 


256  THE    ROCK    OF   SALVATION. 

in  this  manner;  we  must  regard  it  as  impossible, 
and  the  understanding  of  the  most  enlightened 
seraph  would  have  been  unable  to  discover  in 
what  manner  this  impossibility  could  ever  have 
become  possible.  Nevertheless,  blessed  be  the 
highly  exalted  and  only  wise  God  !  the  greatest 
of  all  enigmas  is  solved,  and  the  way  to  render 
possible  that  which  is  impossible  discovered. 
Hear  what  Paul  says,  with  an  emphatic  repetition, 
"  To  declare,  I  say,  at  this  time  his  righteousness, 
that  he  might  be  just,  and  the  justiiier  of  him 
that  believeth  in  Jesus."  Have  you  understood  it  ? 
The  bloody  execution  is  the  basis  on  which  God, 
without  infringing  upon  his  holiness,  truth,  and 
justice,  can  now  really  justify  the  ungodly, 
absolve  the  accursed,  and  beatify  those  who  are 
worthy  of  death  ;  this  is  the  meaning  of  the 
Apostle. 

"Him  that  believeth  in  Jesus" — says  the 
Apostle;  he  who,  as  it  respects  his  spiritual 
life,  has  sprung  up  from  faith,  as  the  plant 
from  the  kernel,  and  is  come  forth  out  of  faith, 
as  from  a  bath  of  regeneration  ;  he  that  has  let 
go  of  himself,  and  leans  upon  the  shoulder  of 
Christ,  either  in  the  way  of  appropriation,  or  by 
longing  and  ardently  desiring,  is  declared  by 
God  to  be  righteous,  guiltless,  and  worthy  of 
eternal  life.  The  man  was  ungodly;  but  it  is 
now  said  to  him.  There  is  no  condemnation  to 
thee.  He  is  dust,  and  nothing  but  sin  in  himself, 
and  yet  he  receives  this  testimony  that  he  pleases 


THE    ROCK   OF    SALVATION. 


25r 


God.  He  is  worthy  of  death,  and  yet  God  takes 
him  to  his  heart,  embraces  him  as  a  favourite, 
and  promises  him  paradise  for  an  inheritance. 
And  this  is  done  freely  and  unconditionally  to 
all  who  possess  true  faith  in  the  blood  of  Christ, 
and  without  reference  to  what  the  individual 
may  subsequently  do  for  his  God,  or  how  far  he 
may  advance  in  sanctification. 

Justly  would  we  abhor  such  a  doctrine  if  no 
cross  stood  upon  Calvary.  It  would  then  be  as 
absurd  as  it  would  be  blasphemous  to  invent 
such  a  mode  of  procedure  as  applicable  to  the 
supremely  perfect  God.  God  cannot  call  dark- 
ness light,  nor  bitter  sweet.  The  doctrine  of 
justification  would  be  the  most  outrageous  lie, 
the  maddest  and  most  absurd  delusion,  which 
was  ever  heard  of  in  the  world,  if  no  cross  stood 
upon  that  hill.  But  the  cross  !  the  cross  !  'Tis 
that  unites  the  most  striking  contrasts,  and  solves 
the  greatest  and  most  difficult  of  all  riddles. 
Far  be  it  from  God  to  pronounce  a  sinner  right- 
eous in  his  sins.  It  is  thus  the  devil  justifies, 
and  not  God.  God  declares  me  just  because 
there  is  no  longer  any  thing  damnable  in  me— 
consequently  he  does  so  in  truth.  The  Surety 
is  become  my  sin— I  his  righteousness.  He  has 
atoned  for  my  transgression.  He  has  elevated  it 
upon  the  cross,  and  endured  in  his  own  body 
what  it  deserved.  The  threefold  punishment 
with  which  God  threatened  sin,  fell  upon  him 
and  crushed  him  in  my  stead.  Hell  was  let 
22 


258  THE    ROCK   OF   SALVATION. 

loose  against  him.  He  who  dwells  in  heaven 
forsook  him.  Death  swallowed  him  up.  All 
my  iniquities  were  laid  upon  him — all,  whether 
already  committedj  or  which  may  in  future  be 
committed.  Even  that  which  still  sleeps  in  my 
veins,  as  a  germ  in  embryo,  has  lost  its  culpabil- 
ity, because  it  has  already  received  its  desert  in 
my  representative.  No  ungodly  thought  can  be 
excited  in  me,  which  did  not  lay  upon  my  Sure- 
ty, and  the  strength  of  sin,  its  damning  and  de- 
stroying power,  is  broken  and  for  ever  done 
away.  The  whole  sum  of  my  guilt  and  crimes 
stand  registered  in  that  hand-writing  which  the 
Saviour  nailed  to  the  cross ;  and  if  I  am  one  of 
his  members,  who  in  heaven  or  earth  might 
dwell  more  safely  than  I,  or  who  more  quietly 
await  the  appearing  of  the  great  Judge  ? 

Be  not  offended  at  these  statements,  my  friends. 
What  we  now  bring  before  your  eyes,  is  the  very 
Gospel  of  our  text,  the  mystery  of  godliness,  and 
the  sweet  and  excellent  kernel,  without  which 
the  whole  Christian  religion,  notwithstanding 
all  the  truths  it  otherwise  offers  us,  would  only 
be  an  empty  shell  to  the  poor  sinner,  and  a  well 
without  water.  And  if  he  had  left  one  of  my 
sins  unatoned  for,  the  whole  of  his  sufferings 
v/ould  not  have  availed  me,  since  one  transgres- 
sion renders  me  not  less  liable  to  eternal  death 
than  a  thousand.  It  was  necessary,  therefore,  to 
atone  for  all  or  none.  And  we  know  that  God 
has  cast  all  our  sins  upon  him,  and  his  obedience 


THE    ROCK    OP    SALVATION.  259 

upon  US.  Now  when  God  commands  and  glori- 
fies us  as  righteous — He  is  perfectly  justified  in 
doing  so,  after  the  righteousness  of  Christ  is  im- 
puted to  us.  In  the  crucified  Christ,  therefore, 
lies  the  actual  reason  why  God,  even  when  he 
justifies  the  ungodly,  is  still  righteous,  and  con- 
tinues so  ;  and  why  the  atonement  is  not  a  mere 
arbitrary  matter,  but  rests  upon  a  profound  basis 
of  equity  and  justice. 

You  now  understand,  my  brethren,  what  is 
the  Apostle's  meaning.  It  is  in  reality  a  sub- 
lime and  unfathomably  profound  expression  ;  an 
immovable  rock  and  pillar  supporting  the  most 
consolatory  doctrine  of  the  whole  of  the  Christian 
religion,  and  the  article  of  faith  of  the  represen- 
tative satisfaction  of  our  adorable  Surety,  and 
the  bleeding  atonement,  by  which,  appearing  for 
us  in  judgment,  he  hath  perfected  for  ever  them 
that  are  sanctified.  In  fact,  that  individual  must 
be  blind,  or  false  and  deceitful,  who  mistakes 
this  scriptural  doctrine.  We  are  well  aware  of 
the  artifices,  with  which  such  characters  are  able 
to  pervert  such  passages  as  the  one  before  us, 
notwithstanding  their  unequivocal  nature,  and 
to  fit  them  into  a  system  of  their  own  inventing. 
But  these  artifices  are  not  from  God,  but  else- 
where ;  and  sincerity  is  not  their  parent. 

Christ,  our  representative,  advocate,  surety, 
and  Goel,  obedient  in  our  stead  and  in  our  place, 
and  made  sin  and  a  curse — is  the  inmost  vital 
marrow  of  evangelical  religion,  the  ground  on 


260  THE    ROCK   OF    SALVATION. 

which  the  edifices  of  our  hopes  are  erected.  We 
therefore  preach  the  cross  to  you,  in  order  that 
we  may  not  weaken,  neutralize,  and  annihilate 
it ;  and,  whilst  vitally  apprehending  it  in  such  a 
signification,  we  become  conscious  why  the 
Apostle  calls  the  cross,  and  the  mystery  of  the 
cross,  a  power  of  God.  For  is  it  not  evident  to 
you  what  an  abhorrence  to  sin  a  cross  must,  first 
of  all,  impart  to  us,  on  which  we  see  the  Son  of 
God,  the  sole-beloved  of  the  Father,  expiring  in 
infernal  torments,  because  it  was  not  possible  for 
the  Almighty — however  willing  he  might  be — 
to  remit  the  punishment  to  transgressors,  against 
whom  his  whole  wrath  and  fiery  indignation 
was  inflamed.  Cannot  you  imagine  to  your- 
selves what  penitence  and  contrition  the  sight  of 
a  scafibld  should  occasion,  where  the  Ancient  of 
Days  protests  against  sin  in  such  a  manner,  that 
mountains  might  quake  with  horror  at  it.  Can- 
not you  form  an  idea  what  a  flood  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial consolation  must  rush  into  a  contrite 
soul  from  a  tree,  to  which  we  behold  a  hand- 
writing nailed,  in  which  all  our  sins — all,  all, 
from  first  to  last— are  registered,  and  upon  which 
those  vials  of  wrath  are  poured  out  to  the  last 
drop,  which  we  had  filled  by  our  transgressions, 
and  which  stood,  ready  to  be  poured  out  upon 
us,  near  the  throne  of  Eternal  Majesty  ?  Can- 
not you  have  any  conception  what  a  flame  of 
the  most  ardent  reciprocal  love  must  issue  forth 
from  the  heart  of  a  poor  sinner,  at  contemplating 


THE    ROCK   OF    SALVATION.  261 

an  event  like  that  on  Golgotha,  where  he  sees 
the  Lord  of  glory,  in  unsearchable  compassion, 
present  his  own  faithful  breast  to  the  fiery  darts 
of  vengeance,  which  were  intended  to  have  con- 
sumed the  sinner ;  and  when  he  beholds  him, 
urged  by  the  most  disinterested  love,  arresting 
the  lightnings  in  their  course,  which  were  about 
to  destroy  us  for  ever  in  hell,  and  turning  them 
upon  his  own  head  ?  For  my  own  part,  I  know 
nothing,  either  in  heaven  or  on  earth,  so  cal- 
culated to  annihilate  man  on  the  one  side,  and 
elevate  and  raise  him  up  on  the  other — to  humble 
him  in  the  dust  and  thoroughly  tranquillize  him, 
and  bind  him  firmly  to  the  heart  of  God  with  the 
fetters  of  the  most  lively  and  ardent  love,  as  the 
cross,  regarded  in  a  Scriptural  light. 

May  He  himself  initiate  you  in  the  mystery 
of  his  cross,  in  order  that  the  self-confident  may 
feel  a  salutary  alarm,  and  that  the  soul  of  him 
who  is  thus  alarmed  may  be  for  ever  tranquil- 
lized. Whoever  of  you  is  still  lying  amongst 
the  sleepers  on  the  borders  of  the  pit,  let  him 
awake  under  the  thunders  of  that  terrible  right- 
eousness, which  manifested  itself  upon  Calvary  ; 
and  whoever  cannot  be  awakened,  even  by  these 
thunders,  let  that  love  smite  him,  which  bathes 
itself  in  its  own  blood,  to  save  a  world  of  hell- 
deserving  sinners  from  destruction. 

The  blood  of  the  Son  of  God  will  decide  the 
lot  of  all  of  you.     It  will  come  upon  you  either 
in  the  way  of  eternal  vengeance  or  eternal  grace, 
22* 


262  THE    ROCK    OF    SALVATION. 

It  will  descend  either  upon  your  hands  to  cleanse 
you,  or  upon  your  head  eternally  to  condemn 
you.  Arise  therefore,  ye  who  are  groaning  under 
the  load  of  your  guilt ;  hasten  and  save  your 
souls.  Sink  weeping  upon  the  heart  of  the 
mighty  Saviour,  and  embrace  his  feet.  Flee 
into  those  wounds,  which  ye  inflicted  upon  him ; 
there  is  your  city  of  refuge  ; — and  bury  all  your 
burdens  beneath  his  cross  ;  and  when  his  com- 
plaint has  broken  your  heart — "  Thou  hast  made 
me  to  serve  with  thy  sins," — then  imbibe  heaven 
into  your  souls  from  the  words  that  follow : 
"  But  I,  even  I,  am  he  that  blotteth  out  thy  trans- 
gressions for  mine  own  sake,  and  will  not  re- 
member thy  sins."    Amen. 


THE    END. 


ROBERT    CARTER, 

No.  58  Canal  Street, 

Keeps  constantly  on  hand,  a  large  and  valuable 
collection  of  Standard,  Theological  and  Mis- 
cellaneous Books,  among  which  are  the  fol- 
lowing : 

ADAMS'  ON  2d  PETER. 
AMBROSE'S  LOOKING  TO  JESUS. 
ADDISON'S  WORKS,  3  vols.  8vo— Spectator,  8  vols. 
ADAMS'  VIEW  OF  ALL  RELIGIONS,  3  vols.Svo. 

BAXTER'S  WORKS,  23  vols.  Svo— do.  Saints'  Rest. 
— Call  to  the  Unconverted — Now  or  Never — Dying 
Thoughts — Converse  v^rith  God. 

BOOTH'S  REIGN    OF  GRACE— Glad  Tidings- 
Remains. 
BROWN'S    DICTIONARY    OF    THE   BIBLE— 

Self-Interpreting  Bible — On  the  Metaphors — Christian 
Journal — Concordance — Christian  Pastor's  Manual. 

BROWNLEE  ON  POPERY— Letters  on  Catholic 
Controversy — Lights  and  Shadows  of  Christian  Life 
— Christian  Father  at  Home — Youth's  Book — Appeal 
to  Christians. 

BUNYAN'S  WORKS,  2  vols.  Svo— Come  and  Wel- 
come— Pilgrim's  Progress — Jerusalem  Sinner  Saved — 
Holy  War — Barren  Fig  Tree — Grace  Abounding. 

BOSTON'S  FOURFOLD  STATE  —  Covenants, 
2  vols — Crook  in  Lot — Memoirs — Fisher's  Marrow. 

BOGUE  &  BENNETT'S  HISTORY  OF  DISSEN- 
TERS, 2  vols. 

BURNET'S  HISTORY  OF  HIS  OWN  TIME— 
Lives  of  Hale,  Bedell,  and  Rochester — Thirty-nine  Ar- 
ticles. 

BLOOMFIELD'S  GREEK  TESTAMENT— 2  vols. 
Svo. 


264 


BLUNT'S    LECTURES    ON    ABRAHAM    AND 

JACOB— St.  Paul— Life  of  Christ— Articles— St.  Pe- 
ter— Elisha. 

CALVIN'S  INSTITUTES— On  Romans—James— 
Psalms — Sermons. 

CAMPBELL  ON  GOSPELS,  2  vols— Miracles. 

CHARNOCK  ON   THE   ATTRIBUTES  —  Christ 

Crucified  —  Regeneration  —  Weak  Grace  —  Christ's 
Death  and  Exaltation. 

CLARK'S  YOUNG  DISCIPLE— Gathered  Frag- 
ments—  Walk  about  Zion — Pastor's  Testimony — 
GUmpses  of  Old  World,  2  vols. 

CUDWORTH'S  INTELLECTUAL  SYSTEM. 

CRUDEN'S  CONCORDANCE. 

COWPER'S  WORKS,  8  vols.— 3  vols,  and  1  vol.— 
Life  by  Southey,  Hayley,  and  Taylor. 

CHRISTIAN  RETIREMENT. 

COLaUHOUN  ON  LAW  AND  GOSPEL. 

DODDRIDGE'S  EXPOSITOR— Rise  and  Progress 
— On  Regeneration. 

D'OYLY  AND  MANT'S  BIBLE,  2  vols.  4to. 

DICKINSON'S  FAMILIAR  LETTERS. 

DICK'S  THEOLOGY,  in  1  and  2  vols. 

ERSKINE,  EBEN,  WORKS,  3  vols.  8vo. 

RALPH,     GOSPEL     SONNETS  — 

Sermons. 

THOMAS,  ON  FAITH— Evidences. 

EDWARD'S  WORKS,  10  vols.  Svo- do.  Revivals- 
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neous Works — Life  of  Biainerd. 

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Glory  of  the  Age — Address  to  the  Young. 

FULLER'S  WORKS,  2  vols.  Svo.— Gospel,  &c. 

FLAVEL'S  FOUNTAIN  OP  LIFE,— Husbandry 
Spiritualized — Providence — Balm  for  a  Diseased  Land 


265 

— Keeping    the    Heart — Saint    Indeed — Token     for 

Mourners — Antinomianism  Unmasked. 
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GREEN'S    HISTORY     OF     PRESBYTERIAN 

MISSIONS. 

HENRY'S  COMMENTARY,  6  vols,  and  3  vols.— 
Miscellaneous  Works,  1  vol. — Meekness — Memoirs — 
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chism. 

HERVEY'S  WORKS,  1  vol.  and  6  vols.— Theron  and 
Aspasio,  2  vols. — Meditations — Letters — Aspasio  Vin- 
dicated. 

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HEWLETT'S  COMMENTARY,  2  vols.  4to. 

HODGE  ON  ROMANS,  12mo.  and  8vo.  — Church 
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HORNE  ON  PSALMS. 

HORNE,  L.  H.,  Introduction  to  the  Bible. 

HAWKS'  CHURCH  HISTORY. 

HAWKES',  Mrs.  MEMOIRS  OF,  by  Cecil. 

HEMANS,  POETICAL  WORKS,  1  vol.  and  2  vols. 

HALYBURTONS  WORKS,  1  vol.— Memoir— Great 
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HEBER'S  LIFE  AND  LETTERS,  2  vols. 

HALL'S  HELP  TO  ZION'S  TRAVELLERS. 

HALL,  ROBERT,  WORKS,  3  vols,  Svo. 

HAWEIS'  CHURCH  HISTORY,  2  vols.  Svo. 

JAHN'S  BIBLICAL  ARCHEAOLOGY. 

JOSEPHUS'  WORKS,  6,  2  and  1  vols. 


266 

JAY'S  WORKS,  3  vols.  8vo.  Morning  and  Evening 
Exercises — Happy  Mourner  —  Prayers  —  Sermons  — 
Discourses,  2  vols. — Lectures. 

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Member's  Guide — Young  Man  from  Home — Flower 
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JOHNSONS'  WORKS,  2  vols,  8vo.-Lives  of  the  Poets, 
2  vols. — Rasselas — English  Dictionary. 

JUNKIN'S  VINDICATION— on  Justification. 

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LOWTH'S  ISAIAH-Hebrew  Poetry. 

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LIME  St.  LECTURES,  1  vol.  Svo. 

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vols. — Maclaines,  2  vols. 

MILNER'S  CHURCH  HISTORY,  with  Continuation. 

MASSILLONS  SERMONS,  1  vol.  Svo. 

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MY  SAVIOUR,  by  Rev.  John  East. 

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MORE,  MRS.  HANNAH,  WORKS,  7  and  2  vols. 
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Devotion — on  Prayer — Coelebs. 

MARSHALL  ON  SANCTIFICATION. 

NEWTON,  JOHN,  WORKS,  2  vols. 

NEWTON,  (Bishop.)  ON  THE  PROPHECIES. 

OWEN'S  WORKS,  21  vols.  Svo.   do.  on  the  Person 


267 

and    Glory  of  Christ— Spiritual  Mindedness—Holy 
Spirit— Redemption— Evangelical  Theology— Armin- 
ianism— 130th  Psalm— Indwelling  Sin— Life. 
PHILIP'S  LIFE  OF  MILNE— Buoy  an— Whitefield— 
Mary's,   Marthas  and  Lydias— Devotional  Guides,  2 
vols.— Young    Man's    Closet   Library— Love  of   the 
Spirit. 
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ter. 
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to  Young  Disciples— Persuasives  to  Early  Piety. 
PIKE    AND    HAYWARD'S    CASES   OF    CON- 
SCIENCE. 
PRIDEAUX'S  CONNEXIONS,  2  vols. 
RUSSEL'S  LETTERS,  2  vols.— Seven  Sermons. 
ROWE'S  DEVOTIONAL  EXERCISES. 
RICHMOND,  LEGH— Domestic  Portraiture— Annals 

of  the  Poor— Life  by  Grimshawe. 
ROMAINE'S  WORKS— on  Faith— Letters. 
ROBINSONS  CALMET—Gesenius— Greek  Lexicon. 
SCOTT S  COMMENTARY,  6,  5  and  3  vols.— Theo- 
logical  Works,   6  vols.— Synod   of   Dort— Force   of 
Truth— Life— Essays. 
SERLE'S    CHRISTIAN    REMEMBRANCER— 

Horace  Solitariae. 
SPRAGUE'S  CONTRAST— Revivals— Letters  to  a 
Daughter— Lectures— Christian  Intercourse— Life  of 
Griffin. 
STUART  ON  HEBREWS— Hebrew  Grammar,  &c. 
SPRING'S  OBLIGATIONS  OF  THE  WORLD  TO 

THE  BIBLE— Hints  to  Parents- Fragments. 
STEPHEN'S  TRAVELS  IN  ARABIA  PETREA, 

&c. 
STURM'S  REFLECTIONS. 

TAYLOR'S  HOME  EDUCATION— Saturday  Even- 
ing— Natural  History  of  Enthusiasm — Ancient  Chris- 
tianity—Fanaticism— Sphitual  Despotism— Phy  sical 
Theory  of  Another  Life. 
TAYLOR,  JEREMY,  Holy  Living  and  Dying— Liber- 
ty of  Prophesying. 


268 


TURRETINE'S  THEOLOGY,  4  vols.  4to. 

THORNTON'S  FRUITS  OF  THE  SPIRIT— Re- 
pentance Explained — Youth  Admonished — Bereaved 
Parents  Consoled — Prayers  and  Commentary. 

THOMSON'S  SERMONS  AND  SACRAMENTAL 
EXHORTATIONS  —  on  Infidelity  —  Sacramental 
Catechism. 

TRAIL  ON  THE  LORD'S  PRAYER—on  Commu- 
nion. 

WILLISON'S  BALM  OF  GILEAD— Afflicted  Man's 
Companion — Sabbath — Assembly's  Catechism —  Im- 
partial Testimony. 

WARDLAW  ON  ASSURANCE  AND  PARDON 
— Christian  Ethics — Socinian  Controversy. 

WATTS'  WORLD  TO  COME— Love  of  God. 

WEL  WOOD'S  SERMONS— Glimpse  of  Glory. 

DR.   CHAI.BZERS'  VTORKS   IN  SEVEN 
VOLUMES,  121MEO. 

VOLUMES  I,  II. 

On  Natural  Theology. 
These  two  volumes  contain  the  Bridgewater  Treatise ; 
besides  which,  one  half  of  them  consists  of  original  mat- 
ter. 

VOLUMES  III,  IV. 
On  the  Miraculous  and  Internal  Evidences  of  the 
Christian  Revelation^  and  the  Authority  of  its  Re- 
cords. 

These  two  volumes  contain  the  whole  of  Dr.  Chal- 
mers'' former  work  on  the  Evidences  of  Christianity  ; 
besides  which,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  Contents,  about 
three-fourths  of  them  consist  of  entirely  new  matter. 

VOLUME  V. 

Sketches  of  Moral  and  Mental  Philosophy. 
This  volume  has  never  before  been  published. 


269 


VOLUME  VI. 

Discourses  on  the  Application  of  Christianity  to 
the  Commercial  and  Ordinary  Affairs  of  Lije. 

This  volume,  besides  the  former  eight  Discourses,  con- 
tains eight  additional  Discourses  of  a  kindred  character, 
several  of  them  never  before  published. 

VOLUME  VII. 

Discourses  on  the  Christian  Revelation,  viewed  in 
connection  with  the  Modern  Astronomy. 

This  volume,  in  addition  to  the  former  seven  Astro- 
nomical Discourses,  contains  seven  additional  Discourses 
of  a  kindred  character,  some  of  which  have  never  before 
been  published. 

WINSLOW  ON  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT. 
ANECDOTES      ILLUSTRATIVE      OF       THE 
SHORTER  CATECHISM. 

LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  NESBIT  OF  CARLISLE,  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Miller,  Princeton. 

MALCOM  ON  THE  EXTENT  OF  THE  ATONE- 
MENT, 

SORROWING  YET  REJOICING,  18mo. 

BAXTER'S  CALL,  NOW  OR  NEVER,  &c.  12mo. 

ALLEINE'S  LIFE  AND  LETTERS,  12mo. 

FISHER'S  CATECHISM,  I2mo. 

WATSON'S  APOLOGY  FOR  THE  BIBLE,  18mo. 

THE  ATONEMENT  AND  INTERCESSION  OF 
JESUS  CHRIST.  By  W.  Symington,  D.  D. 
Second  edition,  12mo. 

MESSIAH  THE  PRINCE  ;  or  THE  MEDIATO- 
RIAL DOMINION  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  ByW. 
Symington,  D.  D.,  1  vol.  12mo. 

HILL  AND  VALLEY;   or  Hours  in  England  and 

Wales.    By  Miss  Sinclair,  12mo. 
HOLIDAY  HOUSE  ;  a  series  of  Tales  for  Youth.   By 

Miss  Sinclair,  12mo. 
LITTLE  HENRY  AND  HIS  AUNT.    By  a  Lady, 
23 


270 


MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH   SINCLAIR.     By  Legh 

Richmond,  author  of  Dairyman's  Daughter,  &c.    2d 

American,  from  the  19th  London  edition.     18mo. 
OUR  PROTESTANT  FOREFATHERS.    By  W. 

S.  GiLLY,  author  of  Felix  Neff;  from  the  12th  London 

edition,  18rao. 
DISCOURSES    ON    THE    MILLENNIUM.     By 

Rev.  M.  T.  Adam.     12mo. 
A  TREATISE  ON  THE  OFFICES  OF  CHRIST. 

By  Geo.  Stevenson,  D.  D.     12mo. 
BOSTWICK  ON  BAPTISM.     Second  edition. 
CHRISTIAN  FATHER  AT  HOME;  or  a  Manual 

of  Parental  Instruction.     By  W.  C.  Brownlee,  D.  D. 

18mo. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  YOUTH'S  BOOK,  a  Manual  for 
Young  Communicants.  By  W.  C.  Brownlee,  D.  D. 
12mo. 

PRIVATE  THOUGHTS  UPON  RELIGION  AND 
THE  CHRISTIAN  LIFE.  By  Bishop  Beveridge, 
D.  D.  12mo. 

LECTURES  ON  THE  GOSPEL  OF  ST.  MAT- 
THEW. By  Beilby  Porpeus,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of 
London,  12mo. 

THE  MINISTER'S  FAMILY.  By  a  Country  Min 
ister.     12nio. 

LECTURES  ON  THE"  BOOK  OF  ESTHER.  By 
Thomas  M'Crie,  D.  D.,  author  of  the  Life  of  Knox, 
Melville,  &c.     ISmo. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH- 
ES OF  NEW  YORK.     ]8mo. 

THE  FAMILY  AT  HEATHERDALE ;  or  the  In- 
fluence of  Christian  Principles.  By  Mrs.  Col.  Mac- 
KAY.     12mo. 

SCOUGAL'S  ENTIRE  RELIGIOUS  WORKS,  con- 
sisting of  the  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul,  Sermons,  &,c. 
18mo. 

THE  GRACE  OF  GOD,  exemplified  in  the  case  of 
William  Mills. 

THE  CROOK  IN  THE  LOT;  or  a  Display  of  the 
Sovereignty  and  Wisdom  of  God  in  the  Afflictions  of 
Men.    By  Rev.  Thomas  Boston.     18mo. 


